used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
adorableadjectiveUS /əˈdɔːrəbəl/
lovable especially in a childlike or naive way
From this reading I sat up; but the patch of sky reeled, and I lay back again, whereupon it recovered its adorable stability.
anew
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
Borderlandnoun
district consisting of the area on either side of a border or boundary of a country or an area
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
exhaustingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪŋ/
having a debilitating effect
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
opinion or judgment
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As I stared, the sense of oppression slipped from me.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
gem-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
hold firmly
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
infinitelyadverbUS /ˈɪnfənətli/
without bounds
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading I sat up; but the patch of sky reeled, and I lay back again, whereupon it recovered its adorable stability.
immediately past
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I sat up; but the patch of sky reeled, and I lay back again, whereupon it recovered its adorable stability.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As I stared, the sense of oppression slipped from me.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
oppressedadjectiveUS /əˈprest/
burdened psychologically or mentally
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
oppressionnounUS /əˈpreʃən/
the act of subjugating by cruelty
From this reading As I stared, the sense of oppression slipped from me.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading I sat up; but the patch of sky reeled, and I lay back again, whereupon it recovered its adorable stability.
reeledverbUS /riːld/
past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading I sat up; but the patch of sky reeled, and I lay back again, whereupon it recovered its adorable stability.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading I sat up; but the patch of sky reeled, and I lay back again, whereupon it recovered its adorable stability.
express in words
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
significantadjectiveUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
important in effect or meaning
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
stabilitynounUS /stəˈbɪlɪti/
the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast
From this reading I sat up; but the patch of sky reeled, and I lay back again, whereupon it recovered its adorable stability.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
tangibleadjectiveUS /ˈtændʒəbəl/
perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
telescopeverbUS /ˈteləskoʊp/
crush together or collapse
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Borderland of Life Again I felt myself striving to grasp at something—nothing tangible now, but a long series of exhausting, infinitely confused dreams.
create by training and teaching
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
untellableadjective
defying expression or description
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I sat up; but the patch of sky reeled, and I lay back again, whereupon it recovered its adorable stability.
vanishingnounUS /ˈvænɪʃɪŋ/
a sudden or mysterious disappearance
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
precisely as stated
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
whereupon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I sat up; but the patch of sky reeled, and I lay back again, whereupon it recovered its adorable stability.
widelyadverbUS /ˈwaɪdli/
to a great degree
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
in the company of; together with
From this reading My brain strove desperately to retain them, but the more it strove the more they slipped back into the darkness of the further side of memory; and, with one mighty effort to hold on to the last of the vanishing train, I opened my eyes, oppressed with a sense of significant things forgotten.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading My eyes opened, I say; and they stared widely at a patch of sky, of an untellable blue, sparkling gem-like, and set very far off as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.
