used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading She could see nothing though she peered into the blackness eagerly.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
brushingnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪŋ/
the act of brushing your teeth
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could see nothing though she peered into the blackness eagerly.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
destructionnounUS /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading She could see nothing though she peered into the blackness eagerly.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
explosionsnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒənz/
plural of “explosion” — a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She could see nothing though she peered into the blackness eagerly.
Karl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
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 The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
newlyadverbUS /ˈnuːli/
very recently
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She could see nothing though she peered into the blackness eagerly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
go across or through
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading She could see nothing though she peered into the blackness eagerly.
phrasesnounUS /ˈfreɪzəz/
plural of “phrase” — an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
with speed
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
rushingnounUS /ˈrʌʃɪŋ/
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She could see nothing though she peered into the blackness eagerly.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
silencesnounUS /ˈsaɪlənsɪz/
plural of “silence” — the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
move hurridly
From this reading But the speed of the motor increased rapidly, and she felt the damp of the river fog brushing her cheek.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
TRAGEDYnounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The explosions of the engine, muffled though they were, seemed like rifle shots to ears newly accustomed to the silences of the night.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading TRAGEDY She heard a few phrases pass between them and then, without lights, the machine suddenly moved forward.
but in spite of that
From this reading The car was rushing to destruction for all that she knew, yet Karl was driving straight and hard for the entrance of the bridge.
