used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
(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 Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
automaticallyadverbUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/
in a reflex manner
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
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 No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
intentionally conceived
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
convulsiveadjectiveUS /kənˈvʌlsɪv/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
implantedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
instinctsnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkts/
plural of “instinct” — inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
not any; not one
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
obstaclenounUS /ˈɑːbstəkəl/
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
precisely, exactly
From this reading His right hand struck an obstacle and closed upon it, in the convulsive grip of a dying man.
scalenounUS /skeɪl/
an ordered reference standard
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
self-preservationnoun
preservation of yourself from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
SPEAKING-TUBE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPEAKING-TUBE.
make square
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/
superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
Sturgis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SPEAKING-TUBE.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
tightenedverbUS /ˈtaɪtənd/
past form of “tighten” — make tight or tighter
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Nature has implanted in every one of its living creatures, from the top to the bottom of the scale, the strongest of all instincts--that of self-preservation.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No conscious impression was made upon his brain by the contact; but, automatically, his fingers tightened as they slipped over the smooth surface.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading As Sturgis fell forward and clutched wildly at the air, his hands struck the stone wall of the square chamber.
