used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
(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 "I am a murderer," was all she could think.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am a murderer," was all she could think.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
for the reason that
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
Billie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
the act of breaking something
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "I've killed a little child."
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "I am a murderer," was all she could think.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am a murderer," was all she could think.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've killed a little child."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
JapanesenounUS /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/
a native or inhabitant of Japan
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "I've killed a little child."
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "I've killed a little child."
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
the force of workers available
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
a particular point in time
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
murderernounUS /ˈmɜːrdərər/
a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
From this reading "I am a murderer," was all she could think.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
by chance
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
one of four equal parts
From this reading A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.
past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
rhythmnounUS /ˈrɪðəm/
the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
cut with a saw
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I am a murderer," was all she could think.
sing-song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
surfnounUS /sɜːrf/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I am a murderer," was all she could think.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
uncertaintynounUS /ənˈsɜːrtənti/
being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
From this reading In the uncertainty of that terrible moment everything turned black before Billie's eyes.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I am a murderer," was all she could think.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
at the time that
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading When the mists had cleared away she saw a weird scene about her: hundreds of Japanese men and women, speaking in low angry voices which somehow reminded her of the breaking of the surf on the beach--perhaps because the Japanese language has a sing-song rhythm.
