used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
quickly and without warning
From this reading The rattling typewriter in the next room was abruptly stilled.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
(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 A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading In his astonishment McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
blottingverbUS /ˈblɑːtɪŋ/
inflected form of “blot” — dry (ink) with blotting paper
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
make calm or still
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
deathlyadjectiveUS /ˈdeθli/
having the physical appearance of death
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading In his astonishment McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading In his astonishment McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
GHOSTSnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading In his astonishment McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his astonishment McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The rattling typewriter in the next room was abruptly stilled.
inkstandnoun
a small well holding writing ink into which a pen can be dipped
From this reading In his astonishment McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
McCarthynounUS /məˈkɑːrθi/
United States satirical novelist and literary critic (1912-1989)
From this reading In his astonishment McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk.
McCarthy'snounUS /məˈkɑːrθiz/
possessive form of “mccarthy” — United States satirical novelist and literary critic (1912-1989)
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The rattling typewriter in the next room was abruptly stilled.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In his astonishment McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk.
on one occasion
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading The rattling typewriter in the next room was abruptly stilled.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The rattling typewriter in the next room was abruptly stilled.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
silencesnounUS /ˈsaɪlənsɪz/
plural of “silence” — the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
stilledverbUS /stɪld/
past form of “still” — make calm or still
From this reading The rattling typewriter in the next room was abruptly stilled.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The rattling typewriter in the next room was abruptly stilled.
push forcefully
From this reading In his astonishment McCarthy thrust a heavy inkstand off the edge of his desk.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Absolute dense stillness, like that of a sea calm at night, took the place of the customary city noises.
transitionary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
typewriternounUS /ˈtaɪpraɪtər/
hand-operated character printer for printing written messages one character at a time
From this reading The rattling typewriter in the next room was abruptly stilled.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The rattling typewriter in the next room was abruptly stilled.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The roar of the city died as a living creature is cut by the sword--all at once, without the transitionary running down of most silences.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading A WORLD OF GHOSTS A deathly stillness had all at once fallen like a blanket, blotting out McCarthy's violent speech.
