used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
anew
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
(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 Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
curlewnoun
large migratory shorebirds of the sandpiper family; closely related to woodcocks but having a down-curved bill
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
echoesnounUS /ˈekoʊz/
plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
gurglingverbUS /ˈɡɜːrɡəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “gurgle” — flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
monotonenounUS /ˈmɑːnətoʊn/
an unchanging intonation
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
mopoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
and nothing more
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
an amount of time
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
relaxingadjectiveUS /rɪˈlæksɪŋ/
affording physical or mental rest
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
shatteringadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərɪŋ/
seemingly loud enough to break something; violently rattling or clattering
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
shiververbUS /ˈʃɪvər/
tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
sleepersnounUS /ˈsliːpərz/
plural of “sleeper” — a rester who is sleeping
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
the state of being asleep
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
springsnounUS /sprɪŋz/
plural of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
not in physical motion
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
stupornounUS /ˈstuːpər/
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
sulphurverbUS /ˈsʌlfər/
treat with sulphur in order to preserve
From this reading Again would come a period of silence, broken only by the gurgling echoes from the sulphur springs, and the regular breathing of the sleepers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
undiminishedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndəˈmɪnɪʃt/
not lessened or diminished
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
vigilancenounUS /ˈvɪdʒələns/
the process of paying close and continuous attention
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
look attentively
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bob pulled himself together impatiently, he had felt himself relaxing into a kind of stupor wherein all things grim and melancholy appeared to him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Struggle by the Mountain It was well after midnight, and Bob still stood guard over the sleeping camp with undiminished vigilance.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Not a sound in the air escaped him; he heard the distant scream of the curlew with a shiver of dread, then nearer at hand the dull monotone of a mopoke resting on some rocky ledge overhead would reach his ears as a dismal calling from a shadowy world.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I wouldn't have believed," he muttered, "what a shattering influence a night watch has on a man's nerves."
