used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He stopped the car, and that fact awoke Duncan to a recollection of his surroundings.
at or in the front
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What is it, Thompson?" he asked.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading He stopped the car, and that fact awoke Duncan to a recollection of his surroundings.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
next to; at the side of
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
brought into existence
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
derricknounUS /ˈderɪk/
a framework erected over an oil well to allow drill tubes to be raised and lowered
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
discernedverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrnd/
past form of “discern” — detect with the senses
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
DuncannounUS /ˈdʌŋkən/
United States dancer and pioneer of modern dance (1878-1927)
From this reading He stopped the car, and that fact awoke Duncan to a recollection of his surroundings.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
opinion or judgment
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He stopped the car, and that fact awoke Duncan to a recollection of his surroundings.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Why have you stopped?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
an instinctive motive
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is it, Thompson?" he asked.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "What is it, Thompson?" he asked.
jumbledadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌmbəld/
in utter disorder
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
MortonnounUS /ˈmɔːrtən/
United States jazz musician who moved from ragtime to New Orleans jazz (1885-1941)
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
MYSTERIESnounUS /ˈmɪstəriz/
plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
Packard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading He stopped the car, and that fact awoke Duncan to a recollection of his surroundings.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
slowedverbUS /sloʊd/
past form of “slow” — lose velocity; move more slowly
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading He stopped the car, and that fact awoke Duncan to a recollection of his surroundings.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading He stopped the car, and that fact awoke Duncan to a recollection of his surroundings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He stopped the car, and that fact awoke Duncan to a recollection of his surroundings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
in or at that place or location
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
ThompsonnounUS /ˈtɑːmpsən/
United States classical archaeologist (born in Canada) noted for leading the excavation of the Athenian agora (1906-2000)
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
unholyadjectiveUS /ənˈhoʊli/
not hallowed or consecrated
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Thompson was peering anxiously toward the jumbled mass of broken stone ahead of him, and there was an instant of silence before he replied.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is it, Thompson?" he asked.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
at the time that
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT When the car, driven by Thompson, drew near to the derrick which had been to Morton the suggestion of an unholy impulse, he slowed the big Packard and leaned ahead, far over the wheel, for his keen eyes had already discerned something beside the road which had not been there when he had passed earlier in the evening.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why have you stopped?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why have you stopped?"
