used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Upon one object, weird and horrible, our startled gaze became rivetted.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
dazzledadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəld/
having vision overcome temporarily by or as if by intense light
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
discernedverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrnd/
past form of “discern” — detect with the senses
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
set up or found
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
garishadjectiveUS /ˈɡerɪʃ/
tastelessly showy
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
a long fixed look
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
provoking horror
From this reading Upon one object, weird and horrible, our startled gaze became rivetted.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
immensitynoun
unusual largeness in size or extent or number
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Upon one object, weird and horrible, our startled gaze became rivetted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Upon one object, weird and horrible, our startled gaze became rivetted.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
rivetted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upon one object, weird and horrible, our startled gaze became rivetted.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
having a supporting base
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Upon one object, weird and horrible, our startled gaze became rivetted.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER THE VAMPIRE'S WING.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Straight before us, at some little distance, there rose a great black rock to a height of, as far as I could judge, a thousand feet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
torchesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/
plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER THE VAMPIRE'S WING.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon one object, weird and horrible, our startled gaze became rivetted.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
VAMPIRE'SnounUS /ˈvæmpaɪrz/
possessive form of “vampire” — (folklore) a corpse that rises at night to drink the blood of the living
From this reading UNDER THE VAMPIRE'S WING.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading Upon one object, weird and horrible, our startled gaze became rivetted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN our dazzled gaze grew accustomed to the garish blaze of lights we found ourselves standing in an enormous cavern.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Around us were glowing fires and shining torches innumerable; the smoke from them half choked us, while above there seemed an immensity of darkness, for the roof of the natural chamber was so high that it could not be discerned.
WINGnounUS /wɪŋ/
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading UNDER THE VAMPIRE'S WING.
