used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
(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 “Sure you’re all right?” he asked.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
eagerly desirous
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
weapons considered collectively
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Sure you’re all right?” he asked.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
detailedadjectiveUS /dɪˈteɪld/
developed or executed with care and in minute detail
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
heapedverbUS /hiːpt/
past form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
JacksonvillenounUS /ˈdʒæksənvɪl/
Florida's largest city; a port and important commercial center in northeastern Florida
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
kerosenenounUS /ˈkerəsiːn/
a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
staying power
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
numbadjectiveUS /nʌm/
lacking sensation
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “Sure you’re all right?” he asked.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “Sure you’re all right?” he asked.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Bob launched into a detailed explanation of all of the events which had taken place since the disappearance of his uncle in Jacksonville.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
express in words
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Bob was anxious to tell his own story, but first he wanted to know about his uncle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Oh, my arms and legs are still a little numb and I can’t talk any too well, but I’m coming around fast now.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a strange setting, the rays from the kerosene lamp on the table throwing a soft glow over the diamonds which were still heaped on the black velvet.
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sure you’re all right?” he asked.
