Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)

From this reading THE ABYSS "Sylvia!"

anew

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

(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 All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

any cognitive content held as true

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

deprive somebody of something by deceit

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Sylvia could not decide.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

reach, make, or come to a decision about something

From this reading Sylvia could not decide.

a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

to say again or imitate

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

moving to the inside of something

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Sylvia could not decide.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

so strong as to be irresistible

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

inflected form of “prop” — support by placing against something solid or rigid

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

express in speech

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

not in physical motion

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

an intense or violent exertion

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE ABYSS "Sylvia!"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE ABYSS "Sylvia!"

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading All memory of the bitterness and the cruel disappointment that he had brought into her life had rolled away from her during those still hours of watching.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

hard to endure

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

showing curiosity

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Was it a voice that spoke in the overwhelming silence, or was it the echo in her soul of a voice that would never speak again?

inflected form of “wring” — twist and press out of shape

From this reading She had sat for so long, propped against a chair, watching that still figure on the floor, straining her senses to see or hear some sign of breathing, trying to cheat herself into the belief that he slept, and then with a wrung heart wondering if he were not better dead.