used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading OLD AUNT PATSEY.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
boundingverbUS /ˈbaʊndɪŋ/
-ing form of “bound” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
a youthful male person
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
Claus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
dawningnounUS /ˈdɔːnɪŋ/
the first light of day
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
drowsinessnounUS /ˈdraʊzinəs/
a very sleepy state
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
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 Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
exceededverbUS /ɪkˈsiːdəd/
past form of “exceed” — be greater in scope or size than some standard
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
enclose with a fence
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
filmyadjective
so thin as to transmit light
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
foldnounUS /foʊld/
an angular or rounded shape made by folding
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
set up or found
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
ten 10s
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
induceverbUS /ˌɪnˈduːs/
cause to arise
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
the force of workers available
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading OLD AUNT PATSEY.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
Patriarch'snounUS /ˈpeɪtriɑːrks/
possessive form of “patriarch” — title for the heads of the Eastern Orthodox Churches (in Istanbul and Alexandria and Moscow and Jerusalem)
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
PATSEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLD AUNT PATSEY.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
rainbownounUS /ˈreɪnboʊ/
an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of the sun's rays by rain
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
ravelingnounUS /ˈrævəlɪŋ/
a bit of fiber that has become separated from woven fabric
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
resortedverbUS /rɪˈzɔːrtɪd/
past form of “resort” — have recourse to
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
SantanounUS /ˈsæntə/
the legendary patron saint of children; an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at Christmas
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
silkenadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlkən/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
sunrisenounUS /ˈsʌnraɪz/
the first light of day
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
having come into contact
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
a just detectable amount
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I strove to trace the filmy thread that lies between consciousness and sleep, and I fancied that it was a raveling from a rainbow, with one end in the sunset, the other in the sunrise.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
at the time that
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
in or at the place that
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading I reached a place where the thread was broken and now the world was dark, but, feeling about, I found the two ends of the silken line, and put them together, and when they touched, the world flashed up in a blaze of light--the sun was shining.
yearningnounUS /ˈjɜːrnɪŋ/
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading Like a boy in his yearning to have Santa Claus come, I went early to bed to force the dawning of another day.
but in spite of that
From this reading I resorted to the tricks that men have employed to induce drowsiness; I counted sheep bounding over a fence, a hundred, a thousand, until their number exceeded the Patriarch's fold, and yet I lay there wide awake, with my nerves starting at every noise, before it reached my ears.
