used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading At times he struggled against his lethargy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At times he struggled against his lethargy.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
convalescing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had the feeling of one convalescing in a hospital.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
emptily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading He had the feeling of one convalescing in a hospital.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
set up or found
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had the feeling of one convalescing in a hospital.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had the feeling of one convalescing in a hospital.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading He had the feeling of one convalescing in a hospital.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had the feeling of one convalescing in a hospital.
lethargynounUS /ˈleθərdʒi/
a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)
From this reading At times he struggled against his lethargy.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had the feeling of one convalescing in a hospital.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had the feeling of one convalescing in a hospital.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
an amount of time
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
primersnounUS /ˈpraɪmərz/
plural of “primer” — an introductory textbook
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
Siner's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading At times he struggled against his lethargy.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had the feeling of one convalescing in a hospital.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At times he struggled against his lethargy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
unconnectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnkəˈnektɪd/
not joined or linked together
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His days passed unconnected by any thread of purpose; they were like cards scattered on a table, meaning nothing.
at the time that
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading During a period following his mother's death Peter Siner's life drifted emptily and without purpose.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When he awoke in the morning and found the sun shining on his dusty primers and examination papers, he would think that he ought to go back to his old task; but he never did.
