used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Rather, it suddenly wanted to stop thinking about them.
quickly and without warning
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
(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 Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
devilsnounUS /ˈdevəlz/
plural of “devil” — (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
ghoulsnounUS /ɡuːlz/
plural of “ghoul” — someone who takes bodies from graves and sells them for anatomical dissection
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
horrifyingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəfaɪɪŋ/
provoking horror
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Rather, it suddenly wanted to stop thinking about them.
maddenedadjective
marked by extreme anger
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
information about recent and important events
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
on the contrary
From this reading Rather, it suddenly wanted to stop thinking about them.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
scaredadjectiveUS /skerd/
made afraid
From this reading The public was scared.
signalsnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Rather, it suddenly wanted to stop thinking about them.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Rather, it suddenly wanted to stop thinking about them.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Rather, it suddenly wanted to stop thinking about them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Rather, it suddenly wanted to stop thinking about them.
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The public abruptly ceased to be interested in news of the signals.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Rather, it suddenly wanted to stop thinking about them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The public was scared.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
werewolvesnounUS /ˈwerwʊlvz/
plural of “werewolf” — a monster able to change appearance from human to wolf and back again
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
in or to any place at all
From this reading Evil spirits, ghosts, devils, werewolves, ghouls--all have roused maddened terror wherever they were believed in.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Throughout all human history, the most horrifying of all ideas has been the idea of something which was as intelligent as a man, but wasn't human.
