used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A man who is a thief!"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
Carmody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
desperationnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
doubledadjectiveUS /ˈdʌbəld/
twice as great or many
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
Ethel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
fistsnounUS /fɪsts/
plural of “fist” — a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
a young female
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "A man who is a thief!"
knucklesnounUS /ˈnʌkəlz/
(used in the plural) a small metal weapon; worn over the knuckles on the back of the hand
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "A man who is a thief!"
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
NotingverbUS /ˈnoʊtɪŋ/
-ing form of “note” — make mention of
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
with speed
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
THIEFnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading "THIEF!"
very small
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
communicated in words
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
whitenedadjective
(of hair) having lost its color
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
which person or people
From this reading "A man who is a thief!"
wild-eyedadjective
appearing extremely agitated
From this reading Ethel stared wild-eyed at the speaker, and in the frozen silence of the room her tiny fists doubled until the knuckles whitened.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Noting the effect upon the girl, he continued, speaking more rapidly now that the dreaded word had been uttered.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The words fell distinctly from Carmody's lips with the studied quiet of desperation.
