used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading His father belonged to the earth and the seas; had no kinship with clouds.
blasphemynounUS /ˈblæsfəmi/
blasphemous language (expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred)
From this reading Nay, the incongruity seemed to him to touch blasphemy.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading His father belonged to the earth and the seas; had no kinship with clouds.
conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
currentsnounUS /ˈkɜːrənts/
plural of “current” — a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading His father belonged to the earth and the seas; had no kinship with clouds.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
hauntingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪŋ/
continually recurring to the mind
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
incongruitynounUS /ˌɪŋkɔːŋˈruːɪti/
the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate
From this reading Nay, the incongruity seemed to him to touch blasphemy.
kinshipnounUS /ˈkɪnʃɪp/
a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character
From this reading His father belonged to the earth and the seas; had no kinship with clouds.
immediately past
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
MattnounUS /mæt/
the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
an old word for “no”
From this reading Nay, the incongruity seemed to him to touch blasphemy.
nebulousadjectiveUS /ˈnebjələs/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
not any; not one
From this reading His father belonged to the earth and the seas; had no kinship with clouds.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
and nothing more
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading His father belonged to the earth and the seas; had no kinship with clouds.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Nay, the incongruity seemed to him to touch blasphemy.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
shrewdadjectiveUS /ʃruːd/
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
swirlingverbUS /ˈswɜːrlɪŋ/
-ing form of “swirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
tannedadjectiveUS /tænd/
(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
tattooedverbUS /ˌtæˈtuːd/
past form of “tattoo” — stain (skin) with indelible color
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading Nay, the incongruity seemed to him to touch blasphemy.
not known
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
unsubstantiality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
weather-beatenadjective
tanned and coarsened from being outdoors
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE DEAD MAN MAKES HIS FIRST AND LAST APPEARANCE The death of his father--of whom he had seen so little--gave Matt a haunting sense of the unsubstantiality of things.
wiryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪri/
lean and sinewy
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
in the company of; together with
From this reading What! that strong, wiry man, with the shrewd, weather-beaten face and the great tanned hands and tattooed arms, was only a log swirling in the currents of unknown waters!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In vain he strove to figure him as a nebulous spirit--the conception would not stay.
