Chapter II · Chapter 2

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading I durst not have slept for a single instant.

(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 With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

leather made from alligator's hide

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

relatively small compact tawny-brown heron with nocturnal habits and a booming cry; found in marshes

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

make high-pitched sounds

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

without stop or interruption

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

causing dejection

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I durst not have slept for a single instant.

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I durst not have slept for a single instant.

brought together in one place

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

comparative of “harsh” — unpleasantly stern

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I durst not have slept for a single instant.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading I durst not have slept for a single instant.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

belonging to or active during the night

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

a deep prolonged loud noise

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading I durst not have slept for a single instant.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading I durst not have slept for a single instant.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

not in physical motion

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

like the short high ringing sound of a small bell

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

up to a particular time

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

close enough to be walked to

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Sounds still harsher and more, hideous were heard around me--the plashing of the alligator, and the roaring of his voice; these reminded me that I must not go to sleep.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading "I continued walking until night, which gathered around me dark and dismal.

in the company of; together with

From this reading With night came new voices--the hideous voices of the nocturnal swamp; the qua-qua of the night-heron, the screech of the swamp-owl, the cry of the bittern, the cl-l-uk of the great water-toad, the tinkling of the bell-frog, and the chirp of the savanna-cricket--all fell upon my ear.