used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
calamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
ConfoundverbUS /kɑːnˈfaʊnd/
be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
From this reading “Confound this dark,” he grumbled.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
divisible by two
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/
past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading “Confound this dark,” he grumbled.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Confound this dark,” he grumbled.
HerbnounUS /ɜːrb/
a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
irritatingadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
not any; not one
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
SWALLOWEDverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊd/
past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The blackness was so intense that they could not even see a hand before the face.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Confound this dark,” he grumbled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Herb turned, stumbled over something and almost lost his balance.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS At first the full measure of the calamity did not come home to the boys.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was irritating, of course, to find themselves in the dark with no possible way of making a light.
