used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
react verbally
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading It was broad day when Captain Ducie awoke.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
befallenverbUS /bəˈfɑːlən/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
BELLEnounUS /bel/
a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals
From this reading CHASING LA BELLE ROSE.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading It was broad day when Captain Ducie awoke.
calamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading It was broad day when Captain Ducie awoke.
CHASINGverbUS /ˈtʃeɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “chase” — go after with the intent to catch
From this reading CHASING LA BELLE ROSE.
intentionally conceived
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
deem to be
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was broad day when Captain Ducie awoke.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
Ducie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was broad day when Captain Ducie awoke.
divisible by two
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
a long fixed look
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was broad day when Captain Ducie awoke.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading CHASING LA BELLE ROSE.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
overwhelmingadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading CHASING LA BELLE ROSE.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was broad day when Captain Ducie awoke.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading His gaze wandered round the familiar room, and as it did so, he asked himself what it was that had befallen him.
at the time that
From this reading It was broad day when Captain Ducie awoke.
in or at the place that
From this reading Even before his eyes were open, or he was conscious of where he was, there was upon him the overwhelming sense of some great calamity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before he had time to consider the question, or even to answer it, a great shock went through his heart, and with a loud cry he sprang from his bed on to the floor.
