used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It wrapped her brain in a blank impenetrable darkness.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
anew
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
(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 But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading It wrapped her brain in a blank impenetrable darkness.
confined by bonds
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
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 It wrapped her brain in a blank impenetrable darkness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Extraordinary to relate, the colonel saw nothing.
consumedverbUS /kənˈsuːmd/
past form of “consume” — eat up completely, as with great appetite
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It wrapped her brain in a blank impenetrable darkness.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
ever-ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
exciteverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪt/
arouse or elicit a feeling
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading Extraordinary to relate, the colonel saw nothing.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading It wrapped her brain in a blank impenetrable darkness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
innocencenounUS /ˈɪnəsəns/
the quality of innocent naivete
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
the act of departing
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
Lilly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
meetingsnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋz/
plural of “meeting” — a formally arranged gathering
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
paralysed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
pitfallsnounUS /ˈpɪtfɔːlz/
plural of “pitfall” — an unforeseen or unexpected or surprising difficulty
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
relateverbUS /rɪˈleɪt/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading Extraordinary to relate, the colonel saw nothing.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
cut with a saw
From this reading Extraordinary to relate, the colonel saw nothing.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
spinenounUS /spaɪn/
the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
throbverbUS /θrɑːb/
pulsate or pound with abnormal force
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
unreasoningadjectiveUS /ənˈriːznɪŋ/
not based on reason or evidence
From this reading Fear, the same unreasoning fear that had taken possession of Lilly during her engagement, consumed her again.
veinsnounUS /veɪnz/
plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading It paralysed her spine, bound her arms, and made her knees shake and the veins in her neck throb.
warilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a wary manner
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
watchfulnessnoun
the process of paying close and continuous attention
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But after the first meetings were over and nothing occurred to excite the smallest gleam of suspicion, her fear died down, leaving behind it an ever-ready watchfulness, a tension at all times on the lookout for awkward questions, a warily assumed innocence by which to avoid pitfalls.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading It wrapped her brain in a blank impenetrable darkness.
