used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
AlienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading A vital circuit remained incomplete, a neural path blocked.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
catalystnounUS /ˈkætələst/
(chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
ChemicaladjectiveUS /ˈkeməkəl/
relating to or used in chemistry
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
circuitnounUS /ˈsɜːrkət/
an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow
From this reading A vital circuit remained incomplete, a neural path blocked.
complexnounUS /ˈkɑːmpleks/
a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
damagenounUS /ˈdæmədʒ/
the occurrence of a change for the worse
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
embryonounUS /ˈembrioʊ/
(botany) a minute rudimentary plant contained within a seed or an archegonium
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
entitynounUS /ˈentəti/
that which is perceived or known or inferred to have its own distinct existence (living or nonliving)
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
errornounUS /ˈerər/
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
falteredverbUS /ˈfɑːltərd/
past form of “falter” — be unsure or weak
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
incompleteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt/
not complete or total; not completed
From this reading A vital circuit remained incomplete, a neural path blocked.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
neuraladjectiveUS /ˈnʊrəl/
of or relating to the nervous system
From this reading A vital circuit remained incomplete, a neural path blocked.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
a course of conduct
From this reading A vital circuit remained incomplete, a neural path blocked.
proteinsnounUS /ˈproʊtiːnz/
plural of “protein” — any of a large group of nitrogenous organic compounds that are essential constituents of living cells
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
pulsesnounUS /ˈpʌlsɪz/
plural of “pulse” — (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading A vital circuit remained incomplete, a neural path blocked.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
stimulinounUS /ˈstɪmjəlaɪ/
plural of “stimulus” — any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A catalyst failed briefly in its task, then resumed, but the damage had been done.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _The Alien had to choose--and fast--a living entity to act through.
precisely as stated
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
vitaladjectiveUS /ˈvaɪtəl/
urgently needed; absolutely necessary
From this reading A vital circuit remained incomplete, a neural path blocked.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Chemical stimuli and minute pulses of energy that were forming the complex proteins faltered.
wombnounUS /wuːm/
a hollow muscular organ in the pelvic cavity of females; contains the developing fetus
From this reading He chose ... but he made one error...._ An embryo stirred very slightly in the warm, dark womb that held it.
