used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
anew
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
in a state of sleep
From this reading When he finally dropped asleep it was just before dawn.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading BOB FIGHTS BACK ★ Bob’s nerves were tight.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When he finally dropped asleep it was just before dawn.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading BOB FIGHTS BACK ★ Bob’s nerves were tight.
Bob'snounUS /bɑːbz/
possessive form of “bob” — a former monetary unit in Great Britain
From this reading BOB FIGHTS BACK ★ Bob’s nerves were tight.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
the first light of day
From this reading When he finally dropped asleep it was just before dawn.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading When he finally dropped asleep it was just before dawn.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
FIGHTSnounUS /faɪts/
plural of “fight” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading BOB FIGHTS BACK ★ Bob’s nerves were tight.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading When he finally dropped asleep it was just before dawn.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
fitfullyadverbUS /ˈfɪtfəli/
in a fitful manner
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When he finally dropped asleep it was just before dawn.
and nothing more
From this reading When he finally dropped asleep it was just before dawn.
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading BOB FIGHTS BACK ★ Bob’s nerves were tight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
on one occasion
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
sharpenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɑːrpənd/
having the point made sharp
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
stridentadjectiveUS /ˈstraɪdənt/
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once asleep, Bob fell into a heavy slumber that was finally broken by the strident ringing of the telephone at the stand beside his bed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading BOB FIGHTS BACK ★ Bob’s nerves were tight.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading He tossed fitfully on the bed, turning the pillow several times in an effort to find a more comfortable place for his head.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The mystery of the turning knob had aroused and sharpened his senses and sleep was slow in coming to him again.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading BOB FIGHTS BACK ★ Bob’s nerves were tight.
at the time that
From this reading When he finally dropped asleep it was just before dawn.
