used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading She understood at once why the Indian woman had been afraid of him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
anew
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
move towards
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She understood at once why the Indian woman had been afraid of him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
next to; at the side of
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
bloodlessadjectiveUS /ˈblʌdləs/
destitute of blood or apparently so
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
bloodshotadjective
(of an eye) reddened as a result of locally congested blood vessels; inflamed
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
DRUMnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She understood at once why the Indian woman had been afraid of him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
inaudibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnɔːdəbəl/
impossible to hear; imperceptible by the ear
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading She understood at once why the Indian woman had been afraid of him.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
NoisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
on one occasion
From this reading She understood at once why the Indian woman had been afraid of him.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
with low volume
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
scrapeverbUS /skreɪp/
scratch repeatedly
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
snowshoesnounUS /ˈsnoʊʃuːz/
plural of “snowshoe” — a device to help you walk on deep snow; a lightweight frame shaped like a racquet is strengthened with cross pieces and contains a network of thongs; one is worn on each foot
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
SOUNDINGadjectiveUS /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
successive (without a break)
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
swollen-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He saw her now and started and, as though sight of her confused him, he looked away from the woman and then back to Constance before he seemed certain of her.
push forcefully
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading She understood at once why the Indian woman had been afraid of him.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He thrust the door open then and came in; he did not see her at first and, as he turned to force the door shut again against the wind, she watched him quietly.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading She understood at once why the Indian woman had been afraid of him.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading THE SOUNDING OF THE DRUM Noises of the wind and the roaring of the lake made inaudible any sound of his approach to the cabin; she heard his snowshoes, however, scrape the cabin wall as, after taking them off, he leaned them beside the door.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She understood at once why the Indian woman had been afraid of him.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading His face was bloodless, yellow, and swollen-looking, his eyes bloodshot, his lips strained to a thin, straight line.
