used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading KIPPING I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Surely Kipping must have gone away, I thought.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the darkness of the galley the silence seemed hours long.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
galleynounUS /ˈɡæli/
a large medieval vessel with a single deck propelled by sails and oars with guns at stern and prow; a complement of 1,000 men; used mainly in the Mediterranean for war and trading
From this reading In the darkness of the galley the silence seemed hours long.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Surely Kipping must have gone away, I thought.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading KIPPING I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading KIPPING I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In the darkness of the galley the silence seemed hours long.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading KIPPING I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
imperceptibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmpərˈseptɪbəl/
impossible or difficult to perceive by the mind or senses
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the darkness of the galley the silence seemed hours long.
KIPPING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KIPPING I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading In the darkness of the galley the silence seemed hours long.
a particular point in time
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading KIPPING I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the darkness of the galley the silence seemed hours long.
in other respects or ways
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
questnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading KIPPING I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
redlyadverb
displaying a red color
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
revertedverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “revert” — go back to a previous state
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In the darkness of the galley the silence seemed hours long.
shroudedverbUS /ˈʃraʊdɪd/
past form of “shroud” — cover as if with a shroud
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading In the darkness of the galley the silence seemed hours long.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
a person who is owned by someone
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
starryadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːriː/
abounding with or resembling stars
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Surely Kipping must have gone away, I thought.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading KIPPING I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the darkness of the galley the silence seemed hours long.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The coals in the stove glowed redly, and the almost imperceptible light of the starry sky came in here and there around the door.
a special situation
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading KIPPING I thought that Kipping must have abandoned his quest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
which person or people
From this reading Otherwise not a thing was visible in the absolute blackness that shrouded my strange host, who seemed for the moment to have reverted to the savage craft of his Slave Coast ancestors.
