used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
Billy'snounUS /ˈbɪliz/
possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
Chris'mus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Chris’mus.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
demanding attention
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
the first light of day
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Chris’mus! an’ jes listen to dem niggers singin’ under de winder!”
dem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chris’mus! an’ jes listen to dem niggers singin’ under de winder!”
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
glimmernounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
jes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chris’mus! an’ jes listen to dem niggers singin’ under de winder!”
hear with intention
From this reading Chris’mus! an’ jes listen to dem niggers singin’ under de winder!”
Marse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marse George.
melodynounUS /ˈmelədi/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
niggers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chris’mus! an’ jes listen to dem niggers singin’ under de winder!”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
with speed
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
singin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chris’mus! an’ jes listen to dem niggers singin’ under de winder!”
sleepernounUS /ˈsliːpər/
a rester who is sleeping
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Chris’mus! an’ jes listen to dem niggers singin’ under de winder!”
directed up
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading It seemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
waked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside.
windernounUS /ˈwɪndər/
a worker who winds (e.g., a winch or clock or other mechanism)
From this reading Chris’mus! an’ jes listen to dem niggers singin’ under de winder!”
