adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
AfterwardsadverbUS /ˈæftərwərdz/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
aislenounUS /aɪl/
a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
alarmnounUS /əˈlɑːrm/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
attemptedadjectiveUS /əˈtemptɪd/
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading With twitching hands the porter attempted to draw the curtains together.
bentnounUS /bent/
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
berthnounUS /bɜːrθ/
a job in an organization
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
blue-gowned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
collapsedverbUS /kəˈlæpst/
past form of “collapse” — break down, literally or metaphorically
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
curtainnounUS /ˈkɜːrtən/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading With twitching hands the porter attempted to draw the curtains together.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
discoverynounUS /dɪˈskʌvəri/
the act of discovering something
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
drawverbUS /drɔː/
cause to move by pulling
From this reading With twitching hands the porter attempted to draw the curtains together.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
fightingnounUS /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
impressionnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃən/
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
instantaneousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnstənˈtæniəs/
occurring with no delay
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
NINEnounUS /naɪn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
NUMBERSnounUS /ˈnʌmbərz/
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
paralysisnounUS /pərˈæləsəs/
loss of the ability to move a body part
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
perplexitynounUS /pərˈpleksəti/
trouble or confusion resulting from complexity
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
porternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading With twitching hands the porter attempted to draw the curtains together.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
recallverbUS /ˈriːkɔːl/
recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
revelationnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃən/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
seatnounUS /siːt/
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
SEVENnounUS /ˈsevən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
shocknounUS /ʃɑːk/
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
slenderadjectiveUS /ˈslendər/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
swayingverbUS /ˈsweɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
tennounUS /ten/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Then in a paralysis of shock, he collapsed on the edge of my berth and sat there swaying.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading With twitching hands the porter attempted to draw the curtains together.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
twitchingnounUS /ˈtwɪtʃɪŋ/
a sudden muscle spasm; especially one caused by a nervous condition
From this reading With twitching hands the porter attempted to draw the curtains together.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The girl in the aisle stood, bent toward us, perplexity and alarm fighting in her face.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading NUMBERS SEVEN AND NINE Afterwards, when I tried to recall our discovery of the body in lower ten, I found that my most vivid impression was not that made by the revelation of the opened curtain.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With twitching hands the porter attempted to draw the curtains together.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading I had an instantaneous picture of a slender blue-gowned girl who seemed to sense my words rather than hear them, of two small hands that clutched desperately at the seat beside them.
