used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
accountedverbUS /əˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “account” — be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
(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 In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
chaunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
confirmationnounUS /ˌkɑːnfərˈmeɪʃən/
additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
creature's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no doubt of the truth of the evil creature’s words.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
the act of discovering something
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading I had no doubt of the truth of the evil creature’s words.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
dullyadverb
without liveliness
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading I had no doubt of the truth of the evil creature’s words.
facultiesnounUS /ˈfækəltiz/
plural of “faculty” — one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
gloatingnounUS /ˈɡloʊtɪŋ/
malicious satisfaction
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had no doubt of the truth of the evil creature’s words.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
irrefragable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
something that is lost
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
not any; not one
From this reading I had no doubt of the truth of the evil creature’s words.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
and nothing more
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
in other respects or ways
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
Peggy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
ranklingverbUS /ˈræŋklɪŋ/
-ing form of “rankle” — gnaw into; make resentful or angry
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
recedeverbUS /rɪˈsiːd/
pull back or move away or backward
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
recurredverbUS /riˈkɜːrd/
inflected form of “recur” — happen or occur again
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
a state of acute pain
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
tatteredadjectiveUS /ˈtætərd/
worn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing
From this reading Not otherwise could his knowledge and possession of the tattered portrait be accounted for.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading I had no doubt of the truth of the evil creature’s words.
unaccountableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbəl/
not to be accounted for or explained
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading In my suffering soul I felt one cruel shaft rankling, and for the rest only a vague sense of loss hung like a cloud over all my faculties.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
the words that are spoken
From this reading I had no doubt of the truth of the evil creature’s words.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Now, too, Peggy’s unaccountable terror at my discovery of her chaunting and gloating over her work on a certain afternoon recurred to me, and was confirmation irrefragable.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Like one in a dream I heard the doctor’s footstep recede down the stairs and heard the yard door close dully on him as he left the house.
