used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They were in a little low chamber about eight feet square.
in addition
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
bewildermentnounUS /bɪˈwɪldərmənt/
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
the two together, not just one
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
bruisesnounUS /ˈbruːzəz/
plural of “bruise” — an injury that doesn't break the skin but results in some discoloration
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading They were in a little low chamber about eight feet square.
Cicely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
descentnounUS /dɪˈsent/
An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
being one more than seven
From this reading They were in a little low chamber about eight feet square.
divisible by two
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They were in a little low chamber about eight feet square.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
set up or found
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
only a very short time before
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
be the source of pain
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
LindsaynounUS /ˈlɪndzi/
United States playwright who collaborated with Russel Crouse on several musicals (1889-1931)
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were in a little low chamber about eight feet square.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading They were in a little low chamber about eight feet square.
a particular point in time
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
not any; not one
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
oaknounUS /oʊk/
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
plasteredadjectiveUS /ˈplæstərd/
(of hair) made smooth by applying a sticky or glossy substance
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
realizingverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “realize” — be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
in the near future
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
make square
From this reading They were in a little low chamber about eight feet square.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
timbersnounUS /ˈtɪmbərz/
plural of “timber” — the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
unpolishedadjective
not carefully reworked or perfected or made smooth by polishing
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The walls were of unpolished oak timbers, roughly plastered in between, and the floor also was of oak beams.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A Surprise So sudden was their descent that Lindsay and Cicely had no time even to cry out.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They evidently had not fallen far, and though for a moment they both thought they were killed, they soon found that beyond a few bruises neither was hurt.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
but in spite of that
From this reading They picked themselves up in a state of bewilderment, and stared around them as if hardly realizing yet what had happened.
