used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
(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 round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
from appearances alone
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading It was just blackness.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
lacking funds
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading FIONA IN THE FAIRY-WORLD It was very, very dark.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
FAIRY-WORLD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FIONA IN THE FAIRY-WORLD It was very, very dark.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
FIONA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FIONA IN THE FAIRY-WORLD It was very, very dark.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FIONA IN THE FAIRY-WORLD It was very, very dark.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading FIONA IN THE FAIRY-WORLD It was very, very dark.
and nothing more
From this reading It was just blackness.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
and nothing more
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
pinverbUS /pɪn/
to hold fast or prevent from moving
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Fiona could not see her hand if she held it close before her eyes.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
specknounUS /spek/
a very small spot
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FIONA IN THE FAIRY-WORLD It was very, very dark.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
a special situation
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
very small
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
precisely as stated
From this reading FIONA IN THE FAIRY-WORLD It was very, very dark.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading FIONA IN THE FAIRY-WORLD It was very, very dark.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
a Caucasian
From this reading Only one thing broke it; far away--many miles it might be--was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a pin.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading All round her in the dark were little soft sounds; they brushed against her feet, and passed before her face; little soft sounds, apparently without bodies.
