used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
in actual fact
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
in addition
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
archnounUS /ɑːrtʃ/
a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
cavitynounUS /ˈkævəti/
a sizeable hole (usually in the ground)
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
conjecturenounUS /kənˈdʒektʃər/
a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
dangersnounUS /ˈdeɪndʒərz/
plural of “danger” — the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
recognizable; marked
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
differentlyadverbUS /ˈdɪfrəntli/
in another and different manner
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
DOWNWARDadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
divisible by two
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
eventless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
fatallyadverbUS /ˈfeɪtəli/
with fatal consequences or implications
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
in a gradual manner
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
glassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlæsi/
resembling glass in smoothness and shininess and slickness
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
gloomieradjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmiər/
comparative of “gloomy” — depressingly dark
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
many times at short intervals
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
oppressedadjectiveUS /əˈprest/
burdened psychologically or mentally
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
a course of conduct
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
penetrationnounUS /ˌpenəˈtreɪʃən/
an attack that penetrates into enemy territory
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
seawardadjectiveUS /ˈsiːwərd/
(of winds) coming from the land
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
smoothnessnounUS /ˈsmuːðnəs/
a texture without roughness; smooth to the touch
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
speculatedverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪtɪd/
past form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
not in physical motion
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
express a supposition
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
survivedverbUS /sərˈvaɪvd/
past form of “survive” — continue to live and avoid dying
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Knowing what I do now, I suppose that it must have ended fatally for myself, if not for my companion also.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
traversingverbUS /trəˈvɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
trodverbUS /trɑːd/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading But so much is still mystery, so much conjecture, that even that may not be certainly true.
tunnelsnounUS /ˈtʌnəlz/
plural of “tunnel” — a passageway through or under something, usually underground (especially one for trains or cars)
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
wave's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The idea oppressed me that we were actually traversing a wave’s interior cavity.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As it was, we went on for some time in an eventless silence, the dark green shadowy smoothness of the surface on which we trod sloping gently downward, the glassy arch above us becoming gloomier as we left the daylight.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading THE DOWNWARD PATH I have often speculated as to what might have happened had we decided differently, and had I survived the dangers of the surface world, and attempted the penetration of one of the seaward tunnels.
