used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
bodilyadverbUS /ˈbɑːdəli/
in bodily form
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
comparableadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpərəbəl/
able to be compared or worthy of comparison
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
foremastnoun
the mast nearest the bow in vessels with two or more masts
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
haystacknounUS /ˈheɪstæk/
a stack of hay
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
immediately past
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The will to live had returned.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
needlenounUS /ˈniːdəl/
the leaf of a conifer
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
nourishmentnounUS /ˈnɜːrɪʃmənt/
a source of materials to nourish the body
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
with speed
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
respondedverbUS /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The will to live had returned.
Ruth'snounUS /ruːθs/
possessive form of “ruth” — United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
shuttingnounUS /ˈʃʌtɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
Spurlock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
steamer-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
strangulationnounUS /ˌstræŋɡjəˈleɪʃən/
the act of suffocating (someone) by constricting the windpipe
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
terrificadjectiveUS /tərˈɪfɪk/
very great or intense
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
vitalsnoun
a bodily organ that is essential for life
From this reading The terrific mental tension of the past few months--that had held his bodily nourishment in a kind of strangulation--became as a dream; and now his vitals responded rapidly to food and air.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading On the second day out he was helped to a steamer-chair on deck; on the third day, his arm across Ruth's shoulder, he walked from his chair to the foremast and back.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was safe, out of the beaten track, at last really comparable to the needle in the haystack.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The will to live had returned.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading To Spurlock it seemed as if a great iron door had swung in behind him, shutting out the old world.
