used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
EAVESDROPPERnoun
a secret listener to private conversations
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
Edith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
Gifford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/
understanding with difficulty
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "Then you know--you saw what happened?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
incredulousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredʒələs/
not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
INVOLUNTARYadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlənteri/
not subject to the control of the will
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Then you know--you saw what happened?"
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
a particular point in time
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "You were there?" she repeated, with more suspicion now than unbelief.
Morriston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
motioningverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənɪŋ/
-ing form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "You were there?" she repeated, with more suspicion now than unbelief.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
reassureverbUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊr/
cause to feel sure; give reassurance to
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
recurring again and again
From this reading "You were there?" she repeated, with more suspicion now than unbelief.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
cut with a saw
From this reading "Then you know--you saw what happened?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading "You were there?" she repeated, with more suspicion now than unbelief.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "You were there?" she repeated, with more suspicion now than unbelief.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "You were there?" she repeated, with more suspicion now than unbelief.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
tombstonenounUS /ˈtuːmstoʊn/
a stone that is used to mark a grave
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
the upper part of anything
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
transfixedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɪkst/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
unbeliefnoun
a rejection of belief
From this reading "You were there?" she repeated, with more suspicion now than unbelief.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You were there?" she repeated, with more suspicion now than unbelief.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Then you know--you saw what happened?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading Gifford took a quick step forward, but before he could be of help she had recovered from the shock, and motioning him back, was looking at him with incredulous eyes.
the words that are spoken
From this reading AN INVOLUNTARY EAVESDROPPER As she heard the words Edith Morriston stood for a moment as though transfixed, and then staggered back grasping at a tombstone for support.
an affirmative
From this reading "In that room at the top of the tower; yes; by accident," he answered in a tone calculated to reassure her.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You were there?" she repeated, with more suspicion now than unbelief.
