used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
adjustedadjectiveUS /əˈdʒʌstɪd/
altered to accommodate to certain requirements or bring into a proper relation
From this reading Then my sight, my perception, gradually became adjusted.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Things I could sense were happening out there; things almost to be seen.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Then my sight, my perception, gradually became adjusted.
BillionnounUS /ˈbɪljən/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 12 zeros; in the United Kingdom the usage followed in the United States is frequently seen
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
blurverbUS /blɜːr/
become glassy; lose clear vision
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Things I could sense were happening out there; things almost to be seen.
crawlingnounUS /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
formlessadjective
having no definite form or distinct shape
From this reading It was a formless vista of Nothingness, yet it seemed a pregnant Nothingness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Then my sight, my perception, gradually became adjusted.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading Things I could sense were happening out there; things almost to be seen.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Then my sight, my perception, gradually became adjusted.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
NothingnessnounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋnəs/
the state of nonexistence
From this reading It was a formless vista of Nothingness, yet it seemed a pregnant Nothingness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Things I could sense were happening out there; things almost to be seen.
perceptionnounUS /pərˈsepʃən/
the representation of what is perceived; basic component in the formation of a concept
From this reading Then my sight, my perception, gradually became adjusted.
pregnantadjectiveUS /ˈpreɡnənt/
carrying developing offspring within the body or being about to produce new life
From this reading It was a formless vista of Nothingness, yet it seemed a pregnant Nothingness.
uttered with a trill
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
cut with a saw
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was a formless vista of Nothingness, yet it seemed a pregnant Nothingness.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Things I could sense were happening out there; things almost to be seen.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Things I could sense were happening out there; things almost to be seen.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Then my sight, my perception, gradually became adjusted.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then my sight, my perception, gradually became adjusted.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Things I could sense were happening out there; things almost to be seen.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Things I could sense were happening out there; things almost to be seen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
tossingverbUS /ˈtɔːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading I stared, and it appeared to be shifting, crawling, slowly tossing and rolling.
vistanounUS /ˈvɪstə/
the visual percept of a region
From this reading It was a formless vista of Nothingness, yet it seemed a pregnant Nothingness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a formless vista of Nothingness, yet it seemed a pregnant Nothingness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Things I could sense were happening out there; things almost to be seen.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
a late time of life
From this reading _A Billion Years in An Hour!_ I saw at first, from the window of the cage, nothing more than an area of gray blur.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was a formless vista of Nothingness, yet it seemed a pregnant Nothingness.
