adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
aloudadverbUS /əˈlaʊd/
using the voice; not silently
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
AndrewnounUS /ˈændruː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of Peter; patron saint of Scotland
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
changingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
marked by continuous change or effective action
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
clamorverbUS /ˈklæmər/
make loud demands
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
confusedadjectiveUS /kənˈfjuːzd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
currentnounUS /ˈkɜːrənt/
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
directingadjectiveUS /dərˈektɪŋ/
showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
growlsnounUS /ɡraʊlz/
plural of “growl” — the sound of growling (as made by animals)
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/
in a softened tone
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
knewverbUS /nuː/
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 At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
leadverbUS /led/
take somebody somewhere
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
oblivionnounUS /əˈblɪviən/
the state of being disregarded or forgotten
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
oilyadjectiveUS /ˈɔɪli/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
ringverbUS /rɪŋ/
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
rumblingnounUS /ˈrʌmbəlɪŋ/
a loud low dull continuous noise
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
Scottie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
sleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
speakingnounUS /ˈspiːkɪŋ/
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
subtlyadverbUS /ˈsʌtəli/
in a subtle manner
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
talkverbUS /tɔːk/
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
talkedverbUS /tɔːkt/
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
threatsnounUS /θrets/
plural of “threat” — something that is a source of danger
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He could make out their talk part of the time; and then again they lowered their voices to rumbling growls.
timesnounUS /taɪmz/
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
troubledadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəld/
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
undertonenounUS /ˈʌndərtoʊn/
a quiet or hushed tone of voice
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
voicesnounUS /ˈvɔɪsəz/
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
waked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but, though he came to the verge of oblivion, the voices from the other room finally waked him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had been changing subtly during the past hours and now they rose, and there was a ring to them that troubled Andrew.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At such times he knew that they were speaking of him, and the hum of the undertone was more ominous than open threats.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When they talked aloud there was a confused clamor; when they were more hushed there was always the oily murmur of Scottie's voice, taking the lead and directing the current of the talk.
