used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
atrociousadjectiveUS /əˈtroʊʃəs/
shockingly brutal or cruel
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
attacksnounUS /əˈtæks/
plural of “attack” — (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
exasperatedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪtɪd/
greatly annoyed; out of patience
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
irritatedadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtəd/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
Laurent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.
murderersnounUS /ˈmɜːrdərərz/
plural of “murderer” — a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
go across or through
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.
ravingnounUS /ˈreɪvɪŋ/
declaiming wildly
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
remorsenounUS /rɪˈmɔːrs/
a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.
not in physical motion
From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
a state of acute pain
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The following nights proved still more cruel.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At the slightest conversation between them, at the least talk, they had alone, they began raving, and were ready to draw blood.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
underwentverbUS /ˌʌndərˈwent/
inflected form of “undergo” — pass through
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading The murderers had wished to pass this part of the twenty-four hours together, so as to be able to defend themselves against the drowned man, and by a strange effect, since they had been doing so, they shuddered the more.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading They were exasperated, and their nerves so irritated, that they underwent atrocious attacks of suffering and terror, at the exchange of a simple word or look.
