used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
aroused or activated
From this reading Then he discovered that it was a real sound that had awakened him.
bureaunounUS /ˈbjʊroʊ/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
intentionally conceived
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Then he discovered that it was a real sound that had awakened him.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading Rat, tat, tat! it was a sharp, distinct summons.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
EARLYadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
echoesnounUS /ˈekoʊz/
plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
explodeverbUS /ɪkˈsploʊd/
cause to burst with a violent release of energy
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
give expression to
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then he discovered that it was a real sound that had awakened him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
and nothing more
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
outrightadverbUS /ˈaʊˈtraɪt/
without restrictions or stipulations or further payments
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
RatnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading Rat, tat, tat! it was a sharp, distinct summons.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Then he discovered that it was a real sound that had awakened him.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Rat, tat, tat! it was a sharp, distinct summons.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
a person, without saying who
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Then he discovered that it was a real sound that had awakened him.
not in physical motion
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading Rat, tat, tat! it was a sharp, distinct summons.
tatverbUS /tæt/
make lacework by knotting or looping
From this reading Rat, tat, tat! it was a sharp, distinct summons.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he discovered that it was a real sound that had awakened him.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The echoes of the explosion appeared to still ring in his ears, as he sat up and pulled himself together.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Only five," he murmured, with a quick glance at the alarm clock on the bureau--"and someone at the front door!"
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading AN EARLY "CALL" The young express agent was conscious that he shouted outright in his nightmare, for the trunk he was dreaming about as it struck him seemed to explode into a thousand pieces.
