used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
baldadjectiveUS /bɔːld/
with no effort to conceal
From this reading Therefore I write it brief and bald.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
for the reason that
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
bombardmentnounUS /bɑːmˈbɑːrdmənt/
the rapid and continuous delivery of linguistic communication (spoken or written)
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Therefore I write it brief and bald.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
challengeverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
take exception to
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
challengingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃæləndʒɪŋ/
requiring full use of your abilities or resources
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
CroftnounUS /krɔːft/
a small farm worked by a crofter
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
Devil'snounUS /ˈdevəlz/
possessive form of “devil” — (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
duello
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
an opposing military force
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
divisible by two
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
frightfuladjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtfəl/
provoking horror
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
intense and profound fear
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Therefore I write it brief and bald.
laired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
metaphornounUS /ˈmetəfɔːr/
a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
on one occasion
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
ordealnounUS /ɔːrˈdiːl/
a severe or trying experience
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
quivers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
recountingnounUS /rɪˈkaʊntɪŋ/
an act of narration
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
ShiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
SidneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
term of address for a man
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
skepticsnounUS /ˈskeptɪks/
plural of “skeptic” — someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
starkadjectiveUS /stɑːrk/
devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
statementsnounUS /ˈsteɪtmənts/
plural of “statement” — a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
not in physical motion
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
survivedverbUS /sərˈvaɪvd/
past form of “survive” — continue to live and avoid dying
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
swornadjectiveUS /swɔːrn/
bound by or as if by an oath
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
séance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore I write it brief and bald.
a special situation
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
unsteadyadjectiveUS /ənˈstedi/
subject to change or variation
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
unthinkableadjectiveUS /ənˈθɪŋkəbəl/
incapable of being conceived or considered
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
which person or people
From this reading Even now sworn statements are being prepared by all others who survived the strange and, in some degree, unthinkable adventure I am recounting.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The present account will be accepted as a challenge by the vast army of skeptics of which I once made one.
the words that are spoken
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
produce a literary work
From this reading Therefore I write it brief and bald.
writesverbUS /raɪts/
third-person singular of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading If my story seems unsteady in spots, that is because the hand that writes it still quivers from my recent ordeal._ _Shifting the metaphor from duello to military engagement, this is but the first gun of the bombardment.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading _A novel of a hideous, stark horror that struck during a spirit séance--a tale of terror and sudden death, and the frightful thing that laired in the Devil's Croft._ _Few words are best, as Sir Philip Sidney once wrote in challenging an enemy.
