used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
Abdiel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They had dragged the caravan from above him, and he had not moved.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading THE ANGEL OF THE WILD BEASTS.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading THE ANGEL OF THE WILD BEASTS.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
caravannounUS /ˈkærəvæn/
a procession (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file
From this reading They had dragged the caravan from above him, and he had not moved.
Clare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading They had dragged the caravan from above him, and he had not moved.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had dragged the caravan from above him, and he had not moved.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had dragged the caravan from above him, and he had not moved.
Halliwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
menagerienounUS /məˈnædʒəri/
a collection of live animals for study or display
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
mousenounUS /maʊs/
any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading They had dragged the caravan from above him, and he had not moved.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
absolutely essential
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had dragged the caravan from above him, and he had not moved.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ANGEL OF THE WILD BEASTS.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
rouseverbUS /raʊs/
become active
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
cut with a saw
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
not in physical motion
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Clare saw the sky, but he saw something else over him, better than the sky--the face of Mrs. Halliwell, the mistress of the menagerie.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ANGEL OF THE WILD BEASTS.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had dragged the caravan from above him, and he had not moved.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
waked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Abdiel indeed waked at the first pull, but had lain as still as a mouse--ready to rouse his master, but not an instant before it should be necessary.
at the time that
From this reading When Clare looked up he saw nothing between him and the sky.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading THE ANGEL OF THE WILD BEASTS.
