used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS SHOT.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour perhaps passed and it was now the early morning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
awhileadverbUS /əˈwaɪl/
for a short time
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
broodedverbUS /ˈbruːdɪd/
past form of “brood” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
CanadianadjectiveUS /kəˈneɪdiən/
of or relating to Canada or its people
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
put or send forth
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
discernibleadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɜːrnəbəl/
perceptible by the senses or intellect
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading An hour perhaps passed and it was now the early morning.
erraticadjectiveUS /ɪˈrætɪk/
liable to sudden unpredictable change
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
depressingly dark
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour perhaps passed and it was now the early morning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
mind-wanderings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading An hour perhaps passed and it was now the early morning.
of an obscure nature
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS SHOT.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading An hour perhaps passed and it was now the early morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading An hour perhaps passed and it was now the early morning.
by chance
From this reading An hour perhaps passed and it was now the early morning.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS SHOT.
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading In the cave the torch cast its flickering light over a dull, gloomy scene.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
visitationnounUS /ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃən/
an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
whereforeadverbUS /werˈfɔːr/
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading After the Canadian had trembled, shuddered and brooded awhile without being alarmed by a second visitation, he began to look into the why and the wherefore of it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To follow his vague and erratic mind-wanderings would be a dull task, as he was too terrified and confused to shape his thoughts into any discernible matter.
