used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
acceptationnoun
acceptance as true or valid
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
(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 The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
completely unclothed
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
burntadjectiveUS /bɜːrnt/
ruined by overcooking
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The doctors when they came could do nothing for him.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
compelverbUS /kəmˈpel/
force somebody to do something
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The doctors when they came could do nothing for him.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
absence of light or illumination
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
the first light of day
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
death-throes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
declarationnounUS /ˌdeklərˈeɪʃən/
a statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written)
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
the act of discovering something
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The doctors when they came could do nothing for him.
doctorsnounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The doctors when they came could do nothing for him.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
divisible by two
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
gruesomeadjectiveUS /ˈɡruːsəm/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
only a very short time before
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The doctors when they came could do nothing for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
hoververbUS /ˈhʌvər/
be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
set down according to a plan
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The doctors when they came could do nothing for him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
oblivionnounUS /əˈblɪviən/
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
presagedverbUS /ˈpresɪdʒd/
past form of “presage” — indicate, as with a sign or an omen
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
revealverbUS /rɪˈviːl/
make visible
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
rouseverbUS /raʊs/
become active
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
seventiesnounUS /ˈsevəntiz/
the decade from 1970 to 1979
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
shadesnounUS /ʃeɪdz/
(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
spicenounUS /spaɪs/
aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
not in physical motion
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The doctors when they came could do nothing for him.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A spice of gruesome mirth seemed to fall into the situation when their declaration was laid bare and one thought of the great discovery.
at the time that
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
which person or people
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
withdrawnadjectiveUS /wɪθˈdrɔːn/
withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
From this reading ‘For the shades are about us that hover When darkness is half withdrawn, And the skirts of the dead Night cover The face of the live new Dawn.’
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The Professor, though hardly an old man as the ordinary acceptation of the word goes, being still within the seventies, had so burnt out his candle at both ends that all the science in Europe could not have kept him alive for another twenty-four hours.
Wyndham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wyndham was the one who thought of it, and a wild longing to rouse the old man, who was now sunk into an oblivion that presaged death, and compel him even in his death-throes to reveal the secret that might bring even him back to life, seized upon him.
