used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a little he lay, motionless and half stunned.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
accentuatedverbUS /ækˈsentʃuːeɪtɪd/
past form of “accentuate” — to stress, single out as important
From this reading The movements had accentuated the pains.
achesnounUS /eɪks/
plural of “ache” — a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a little he lay, motionless and half stunned.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a little he lay, motionless and half stunned.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
the act of giving
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/
past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The movements had accentuated the pains.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading For a little he lay, motionless and half stunned.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
to a considerable degree
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For a little he lay, motionless and half stunned.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For a little he lay, motionless and half stunned.
not in physical motion
From this reading For a little he lay, motionless and half stunned.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The movements had accentuated the pains.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
numbnessnounUS /ˈnʌmnəs/
partial or total lack of sensation in a part of the body; a symptom of nerve damage or dysfunction
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading The movements had accentuated the pains.
pangsnounUS /pæŋz/
plural of “pang” — a sudden sharp feeling
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
sorelyadverbUS /ˈsɔːrli/
to a great degree
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading For a little he lay, motionless and half stunned.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that the breath seemed to be driven from his body.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then, his brain clearing, and, be it said, his general sense of numbness giving place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, and tried to peer about him.
Varley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar.
