used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
(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 From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And then the big clock in the hallway began to strike.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And then the big clock in the hallway began to strike.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading And then the big clock in the hallway began to strike.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Then slowly she remembered the happenings of the previous day.
DECIDESverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdz/
third-person singular of “decide” — reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The spring sunlight filled the room.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
hallwaynounUS /ˈhɔːlweɪ/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading And then the big clock in the hallway began to strike.
happeningsnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/
plural of “happening” — an event that happens
From this reading Then slowly she remembered the happenings of the previous day.
hawthornnounUS /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/
a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
and nothing more
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading Then slowly she remembered the happenings of the previous day.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Then slowly she remembered the happenings of the previous day.
robinnounUS /ˈrɑːbən/
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The spring sunlight filled the room.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Then slowly she remembered the happenings of the previous day.
the season of growth
From this reading The spring sunlight filled the room.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading And then the big clock in the hallway began to strike.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The spring sunlight filled the room.
the rays of the sun
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then slowly she remembered the happenings of the previous day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And then the big clock in the hallway began to strike.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
at the time that
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
in the company of; together with
From this reading RUTH DECIDES Ruth slept late the next morning, and when she first awoke it was with the puzzled feeling of waking from a bad dream.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading From a hawthorn tree just below her window she could hear a robin singing as if there were nothing but sunshine and delight in all the world.
