adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
actuallyadverbUS /ˈæktʃuːəli/
in actual fact
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
bulked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
castverbUS /kæst/
put or send forth
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
certaintynounUS /ˈsɜːrtənti/
the state of being certain
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/
a state at a particular time
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
cowardnounUS /ˈkaʊərd/
a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
dartingverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
dumbadjectiveUS /dʌm/
slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
feelverbUS /fiːl/
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
flightnounUS /flaɪt/
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
formlessadjective
having no definite form or distinct shape
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
FrankadjectiveUS /fræŋk/
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
Frank'snounUS /fræŋks/
possessive form of “frank” — a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
frayedadjectiveUS /freɪd/
worn away or tattered along the edges
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
imaginationnounUS /ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃən/
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
jumpyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌmpi/
being in a tense state
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
matchverbUS /mætʃ/
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
McCaskey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was too much for Joe.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
of an obscure nature
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
pursuitnounUS /pərˈsuːt/
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
renderedverbUS /ˈrendərd/
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
shadowsnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
sighverbUS /saɪ/
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
sleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
steadyverbUS /ˈstedi/
make steady
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
strainnounUS /streɪn/
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
superstitiousadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃəs/
showing ignorance of the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The steady strain of his and Frank's long flight, the certainty of pursuit close behind, had frayed his nerve and rendered him jumpy.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was too much for Joe.
trancelikeadjective
as if in a trance
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
visitornounUS /ˈvɪzɪtər/
someone who visits
From this reading For a man in his condition to be awakened out of a trancelike sleep by an intruder at once invisible, dumb; to feel the presence of that mysterious visitor and actually to see him--it--bulked dim and formless among the darting shadows cast by a blazing match--was a test indeed.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading As for Frank, he had actually seen nothing, heard nothing except his brother's voice, and then--that sigh.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Joe McCaskey was not a coward, neither was he a superstitious man, but he had imagination.
