used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
abyssnounUS /əˈbɪs/
a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
consider or hold as true
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
anew
From this reading The waves surged forth again, and Carter knew that the Being had heard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
awesomeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːsəm/
inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
chillingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪlɪŋ/
provoking fear terror
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The waves surged forth again, and Carter knew that the Being had heard.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The waves surged forth again, and Carter knew that the Being had heard.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The waves surged forth again, and Carter knew that the Being had heard.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
illimitableadjective
without limits in extent or size or quantity
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
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 A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
a particular point in time
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I will not retreat."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
compacted by ironing
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading I will not retreat."
seekernounUS /ˈsiːkər/
someone making a search or inquiry
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
shutting-off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
not in physical motion
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
surgedverbUS /sɜːrdʒd/
past form of “surge” — rise and move, as in waves or billows
From this reading The waves surged forth again, and Carter knew that the Being had heard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
vastnessnounUS /ˈvæstnəs/
unusual largeness in size or extent or number
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
voidadjectiveUS /vɔɪd/
lacking any legal or binding force
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading A sudden shutting-off of the waves left Carter in a chilling and awesome silence full of the spirit of desolation.
belonging to which person
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I will not retreat."
the words that are spoken
From this reading After a moment he thought of words whose mental substance he flung into the abyss: "I accept.
but in spite of that
From this reading On every hand pressed the illimitable vastness of the void; yet the seeker knew that the Being was still there.
