used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
BethnounUS /beθ/
the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet
From this reading "Listen," said Beth suddenly.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading They had reached the end of the cave.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
made afraid
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had reached the end of the cave.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
immediately past
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
hear with intention
From this reading "Listen," said Beth suddenly.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading They had reached the end of the cave.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Listen," said Beth suddenly.
scrapingnounUS /ˈskreɪpɪŋ/
(usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
a person, without saying who
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Jimmy struck another match, one of the last left in his box, and held it out in front of him.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading "Listen," said Beth suddenly.
tappingnounUS /ˈtæpɪŋ/
the sound of light blow or knock
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had reached the end of the cave.
tonelessadjective
lacking in tone or expression
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From far above them came sounds, sometimes of light tapping, sometimes as if a man were scraping at the roof of the cave.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
which person or people
From this reading She spoke in a gasp, the toneless whisper of someone who is frightened.
