aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
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 Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
anew
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
auroranounUS /ərˈɔːrə/
the first light of day
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
barometernounUS /bərˈɑːmɪtər/
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
borealis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The fall, slow at first, but inevitable, would increase in mathematical proportion.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
connectingverbUS /kəˈnektɪŋ/
-ing form of “connect” — connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
disquietingadjectiveUS /dɪˈskwaɪətɪŋ/
causing mental discomfort
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
one or the other of two
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The fall, slow at first, but inevitable, would increase in mathematical proportion.
fathomverbUS /ˈfæðəm/
come to understand
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The fall, slow at first, but inevitable, would increase in mathematical proportion.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
incautiouslyadverb
without caution or prudence
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
increasenounUS /ˌɪnˈkriːs/
a quantity that is added
From this reading The fall, slow at first, but inevitable, would increase in mathematical proportion.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading The fall, slow at first, but inevitable, would increase in mathematical proportion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
mathematicaladjectiveUS /ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl/
of or pertaining to or of the nature of mathematics
From this reading The fall, slow at first, but inevitable, would increase in mathematical proportion.
in motion
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
on one occasion
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
compacted by ironing
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
proportionnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃən/
the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading The fall, slow at first, but inevitable, would increase in mathematical proportion.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
move upward
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
a strong line
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
cut with a saw
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading The fall, slow at first, but inevitable, would increase in mathematical proportion.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
Spero
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Spero at once detected the cause of the disquieting noise, and it terrified him, for it was impossible to close the valve again.
hard to endure
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
valvenounUS /vælv/
a structure in a hollow organ (like the heart) with a flap to insure one-way flow of fluid through it
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Trying to fathom the abyss below them, he saw the flames of the aurora borealis reflected in the water of an immense lake.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He examined the barometer, which had begun slowly to rise, while the balloon was beginning to descend.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Either the valve had partly opened of itself, or they had pressed upon the connecting rope while incautiously moving about in the car; at all events, the gas was escaping.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The fall, slow at first, but inevitable, would increase in mathematical proportion.
