used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading I was the only creature that breathed the air of that bleak and dingy room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading I was the only creature that breathed the air of that bleak and dingy room.
uttered without voice
From this reading I was the only creature that breathed the air of that bleak and dingy room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading I was the only creature that breathed the air of that bleak and dingy room.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading I was the only creature that breathed the air of that bleak and dingy room.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
floodnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
come together
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
not any; not one
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
and nothing more
From this reading I was the only creature that breathed the air of that bleak and dingy room.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I was the only creature that breathed the air of that bleak and dingy room.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading A dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
SURPRISESnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was the only creature that breathed the air of that bleak and dingy room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then memory returned in a flood, and I sprang from the bed and peered about me.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
in or at the place that
From this reading For a moment I was unable to recall where I was, or on what errand I had come.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
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 dim light struggled in from the darkened window, but no cause for apprehension could be seen.
in the company of; together with
From this reading IN WHICH I MEET A FEW SURPRISES I awoke with the sense of threatened danger strong in my mind.
