used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The sages in the study had drawn their armchairs about the fire.
(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 The servants had gone to bed—all was quiet, and it was now past one o’clock.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
armchairsnounUS /ˈɑːrmtʃerz/
plural of “armchair” — chair with a support on each side for arms
From this reading The sages in the study had drawn their armchairs about the fire.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The sages in the study had drawn their armchairs about the fire.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The sages in the study had drawn their armchairs about the fire.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The servants had gone to bed—all was quiet, and it was now past one o’clock.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
Maubray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The servants had gone to bed—all was quiet, and it was now past one o’clock.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading The servants had gone to bed—all was quiet, and it was now past one o’clock.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The servants had gone to bed—all was quiet, and it was now past one o’clock.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The servants had gone to bed—all was quiet, and it was now past one o’clock.
by chance
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
picketnounUS /ˈpɪkɪt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The servants had gone to bed—all was quiet, and it was now past one o’clock.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
sagesnounUS /ˈseɪdʒɪz/
plural of “sage” — a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
From this reading The sages in the study had drawn their armchairs about the fire.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The servants had gone to bed—all was quiet, and it was now past one o’clock.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The sages in the study had drawn their armchairs about the fire.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The sages in the study had drawn their armchairs about the fire.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading He grew tired of listening for sound or signal from the picket in the parlour; as he lay in his bed reading, his eyes failed him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had walked fifteen miles that day, and in spite of his determination to remain awake, perhaps partly in consequence of it he fell into a profound slumber, from which he was awakened in a way that surprised him.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURSUIT William Maubray, in obedience to orders, went to his bed, having locked his chamber door.
