used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He looked about him, unable at first to realize where he was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked about him, unable at first to realize where he was.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading His sleepy brain cleared, and the events of the day before--the storm--the deserted cabin--came back to him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading His sleepy brain cleared, and the events of the day before--the storm--the deserted cabin--came back to him.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading His sleepy brain cleared, and the events of the day before--the storm--the deserted cabin--came back to him.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
bunknounUS /bʌŋk/
a long trough for feeding cattle
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading His sleepy brain cleared, and the events of the day before--the storm--the deserted cabin--came back to him.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
DAMnounUS /dæm/
a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading His sleepy brain cleared, and the events of the day before--the storm--the deserted cabin--came back to him.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading His sleepy brain cleared, and the events of the day before--the storm--the deserted cabin--came back to him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading His sleepy brain cleared, and the events of the day before--the storm--the deserted cabin--came back to him.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He looked about him, unable at first to realize where he was.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He struck a match and glanced at his watch.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He looked about him, unable at first to realize where he was.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked about him, unable at first to realize where he was.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading He struck a match and glanced at his watch.
motorcyclenounUS /ˈmoʊtərsaɪkəl/
a motor vehicle with two wheels and a strong frame
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading He looked about him, unable at first to realize where he was.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
shroudedverbUS /ˈʃraʊdɪd/
past form of “shroud” — cover as if with a shroud
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading His sleepy brain cleared, and the events of the day before--the storm--the deserted cabin--came back to him.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
not in physical motion
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading His sleepy brain cleared, and the events of the day before--the storm--the deserted cabin--came back to him.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading He struck a match and glanced at his watch.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading He looked about him, unable at first to realize where he was.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
look attentively
From this reading He struck a match and glanced at his watch.
in or at the place that
From this reading He looked about him, unable at first to realize where he was.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then, as he reached out his hand, it came in contact with the motorcycle, which he had stood at the head of the bunk.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading THE BROKEN DAM How long he slept he did not know, but, while the cabin was still shrouded in darkness, he woke suddenly and sat upright, as though in response to a voice that called.
