used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
apparitionnounUS /ˌæpərˈɪʃən/
a ghostly appearing figure
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
attitudesnounUS /ˈætətuːdz/
plural of “attitude” — a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
augured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
awenounUS /ɑː/
an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
cloudingnounUS /ˈklaʊdɪŋ/
the process whereby water particles become visible in the sky
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
darklyadverbUS /ˈdɑːrkli/
without light
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
dissipatingverbUS /ˈdɪsəpeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “dissipate” — to cause to separate and go in different directions
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
dweltverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
divisible by two
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
a long fixed look
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
gloweringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlaʊərɪŋ/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
death of a person
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
immortaladjUS /ɪˈmɔːr.t̬əl/
Living forever; never dying or decaying. (Bất tử, trường tồn vĩnh cửu.)
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
InternallyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrnəli/
on or from the inside
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
MeasuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/
having notes of fixed rhythmic value
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
ORCHIDSnounUS /ˈɔːrkədz/
plural of “orchid” — any of numerous plants of the orchid family usually having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colors
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
overchargedverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈtʃɑːrdʒd/
past form of “overcharge” — rip off; ask an unreasonable price
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
perplexitynounUS /pərˈpleksəti/
trouble or confusion resulting from complexity
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
pigmynounUS /ˈpɪɡmi/
an unusually small individual
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
by chance
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
quakingverbUS /ˈkweɪkɪŋ/
-ing form of “quake” — shake with fast, tremulous movements
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
questioninglyadverb
in a curious and questioning manner
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
scrutinynounUS /ˈskruːtəni/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
try to get or reach
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
spell-boundadjective
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
standardsnounUS /ˈstændərdz/
plural of “standard” — a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
having come into contact
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading Measured by their pigmy standards, I was a gigantic being of a new type and order, possibly I was even immortal.
precisely as stated
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I SEEK ORCHIDS Internally I was quaking, and thinking very fast.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The first shock of their astonishment was dissipating, and two of the three faces were clouding into a glowering scrutiny which augured darkly for my escape.
a Caucasian
From this reading I knew from their spell-bound attitudes that I was the first white man they had seen and an apparition.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The gaze of the third held a grave perplexity, touched with awe, and in the interval of overcharged silence the other eyes dwelt questioningly on his.
