used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
(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 Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
attractionnounUS /əˈtrækʃən/
the force by which one object attracts another
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
Bradby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
defineverbUS /dɪˈfaɪn/
determine the essential quality of
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
divisible by two
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
ever-widening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
EXPIATIONnoun
compensation for a wrong
From this reading EXPIATION.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
intense and profound fear
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
and nothing more
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
not any; not one
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
sinsnounUS /sɪnz/
plural of “sin” — estrangement from god
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
UnaccountablyadverbUS /ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbli/
in an unaccountable manner
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His first act was to build a big blaze, for he was already becoming afraid.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Unaccountably enough Bradby went no further than the dying embers of the fire.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
a Caucasian
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some strange attraction kept him close to the scene of the tragedy, and all night he sat by the fire with his head in his hands and his eyes staring at the ever-widening ring of white ashes.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
but in spite of that
From this reading He could not define even to himself just what this fear was; it was not so much horror at what he had done as a feeling that his sins would yet find him out.
