used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
avalanchenounUS /ˈævəlæntʃ/
a slide of large masses of snow and ice and mud down a mountain
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
axenounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
bladenounUS /bleɪd/
especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
blindingadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
exhale hard
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
placed in a grave
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
rid of obstructions
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
Della
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
flounderedverbUS /ˈflaʊndərd/
past form of “flounder” — walk with great difficulty
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
handleverbUS /ˈhændəl/
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
howlingnounUS /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/
a long loud emotional utterance
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
hurledverbUS /hɜːrld/
past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
KILLINGnounUS /ˈkɪlɪŋ/
an event that causes someone to die
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
Lawler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
LinkverbUS /lɪŋk/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
Link'snounUS /lɪŋks/
possessive form of “link” — the means of connection between things linked in series
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
not any; not one
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
with speed
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
retardverbUS /rɪˈtɑːrd/
cause to move more slowly or operate at a slower rate
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
rigidlyadverbUS /ˈrɪdʒɪdli/
in a rigid manner
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
smotherverbUS /ˈsmʌðər/
envelop completely
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
caught or fixed
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Surprise that Lawler had escaped his blow seemed to retard Link's movements quite as much as the force of his fall.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading On the floor in the smother of white was Link, and near him the handle of the axe stuck rigidly upward, its blade buried deeply in the floor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE "KILLING" For an instant following the attack there was no change in the scene inside the cabin.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
WhartonnounUS /ˈwɔːrtən/
United States novelist (1862-1937)
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Della Wharton had been watching Lawler as he opened the door, and she had seen what quickly had followed.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
a Caucasian
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading For he floundered on the floor, unable to get his feet under him; while the bitter wind, howling in through the open door, hurled a blinding avalanche of white clear to the fireplace.
