adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah! it is you, is it?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
audibleadjectiveUS /ˈɑːdəbəl/
heard or perceptible by the ear
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
bloodnounUS /blʌd/
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
breathingnounUS /ˈbriːðɪŋ/
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
companionnounUS /kəmˈpænjən/
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
demandedverbUS /dɪˈmændəd/
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
distinctlyadverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋktli/
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
drawingnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
fleshnounUS /fleʃ/
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
freeverbUS /friː/
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
ghostnounUS /ɡoʊst/
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Ah! it is you, is it?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/
and nothing more
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
musclenounUS /ˈmʌsəl/
one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
NormannounUS /ˈnɔːrmən/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
ownernounUS /ˈoʊnər/
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
PerhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
shoulderverbUS /ˈʃoʊldər/
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
SirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/
having a supporting base
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
swordnounUS /sɔːrd/
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
tarryverbUS /ˈteri/
be about
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the tarry darkness, neither the face nor figure of the intruder could be made out, but he merely saw a darker shadow beside him standing in the sea of darkness.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
unmistakablyadverbUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbli/
without possibility of mistake
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In one instant Sir Norman was on his feet and his hand on his sword.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Perhaps he might have thought it a ghost, but that the hand which grasped his shoulder was unmistakably of flesh, and blood, and muscle, and the breathing of its owner was distinctly audible by his side.
WhopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
wrenchingadjectiveUS /ˈrentʃɪŋ/
causing great physical or mental suffering
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Who are you?” demanded Sir Norman, drawing out his sword, and wrenching himself free from his unseen companion.
