used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
anew
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading “But it’s impossible,” he said, aloud.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And this morning the presence of which he was conscious was that of the man who had been executed yesterday morning.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
besetverbUS /bɪˈset/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But it’s impossible,” he said, aloud.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
intentionally conceived
From this reading And this morning the presence of which he was conscious was that of the man who had been executed yesterday morning.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
executedadjectiveUS /ˈeksəkjuːtɪd/
put to death as punishment
From this reading And this morning the presence of which he was conscious was that of the man who had been executed yesterday morning.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
glimpsesnounUS /ˈɡlɪmpsɪz/
plural of “glimpse” — a quick look
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “But it’s impossible,” he said, aloud.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading “But it’s impossible,” he said, aloud.
impressionsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/
plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But it’s impossible,” he said, aloud.
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 He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading And this morning the presence of which he was conscious was that of the man who had been executed yesterday morning.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
not divisible by two
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
on one occasion
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
psychicaladjectiveUS /ˈsaɪkɪkəl/
affecting or influenced by the human mind
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “But it’s impossible,” he said, aloud.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
in a strange manner
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
supernormaladjective
beyond the range of the normal or scientifically explainable
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And this morning the presence of which he was conscious was that of the man who had been executed yesterday morning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And this morning the presence of which he was conscious was that of the man who had been executed yesterday morning.
which person or people
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He went down as usual to the prison next morning and once again he was strangely beset with the feeling that there was some unseen presence there.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He had before now had some odd psychical experiences, and knew that he was a “sensitive”--one, that is, who is capable, under certain circumstances, of receiving supernormal impressions, and of having glimpses of the unseen world that lies about us.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading It was local, and he felt it most strongly in the little prison yard, and as he passed the door of the condemned cell.
the day immediately before today
From this reading And this morning the presence of which he was conscious was that of the man who had been executed yesterday morning.
