used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
(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 When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
boltsnounUS /boʊlts/
plural of “bolt” — a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
boundarynounUS /ˈbaʊn.də.ri/
A line that marks the limits of an area.
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What did it all mean?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What were they going to do with him?
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
the act of departing
From this reading What were they going to do with him?
Gwynplaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
illuminedverbUS /ˌɪˈluːmənd/
past form of “illumine” — make lighter or brighter
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
and nothing more
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading What did it all mean?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
SHUDDERINGadjectiveUS /ˈʃʌdərɪŋ/
shaking convulsively or violently
From this reading SHUDDERING.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
having a supporting base
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What were they going to do with him?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What were they going to do with him?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What were they going to do with him?
at the time that
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
wicketnounUS /ˈwɪkət/
cricket equipment consisting of a set of three stumps topped by crosspieces; used in playing cricket
From this reading When Gwynplaine heard the wicket shut, creaking in all its bolts, he trembled.
in the company of; together with
From this reading What were they going to do with him?
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It seemed to him that the door which had just closed was the communication between light and darkness--opening on one side on the living, human crowd, and on the other on a dead world; and now that everything illumined by the sun was behind him, that he had stepped over the boundary of life and was standing without it, his heart contracted.
