used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
AbelnounUS /ˈeɪbəl/
Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Presently the two shapes became three.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
consultationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/
a conference (usually with someone important)
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
fanningverbUS /ˈfænɪŋ/
inflected form of “fan” — strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
funnelnounUS /ˈfʌnəl/
a conical shape with a wider and a narrower opening at the two ends
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
Keeling's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
murmuringnounUS /ˈmɜːrmərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
in the near future
From this reading Presently the two shapes became three.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
rumbledverbUS /ˈrʌmbəld/
past form of “rumble” — make a low noise
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
shapesnounUS /ʃeɪps/
plural of “shape” — any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
having a supporting base
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Presently the two shapes became three.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
tremornounUS /ˈtremər/
an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
From this reading At its thrill and tone a sudden tremor ran through Abel Keeling's frame.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a murmuring, as of a consultation, and then suddenly a new voice spoke.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading One of them gave a low whistle, and seemed to be fanning his face; but the other rumbled something into a sort of funnel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He could see the two shapes, flat and without relief, standing on a high narrow structure with rails.
