used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
breast-pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
cigarette-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
Colin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
collarnounUS /ˈkɑːlər/
a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/
having an (artificial) crown on a tooth
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
cupped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
delvedverbUS /delvd/
past form of “delve” — turn up, loosen, or remove earth
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
foragingnounUS /ˈfɔːrɪdʒɪŋ/
the act of searching for food and provisions
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
engage in
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
masonries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
a particular point in time
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
Pamela
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Pamela sat by him leaning on her elbow: at the moment her hand was foraging in his breast-pocket for his cigarette-case.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
suntannedadjective
(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
unbuttonedadjectiveUS /ənˈbʌtənd/
not buttoned
From this reading His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, and the raising of his left arm, to make a pillow for his head, delved a cupped hollow of suntanned skin above his collar bone.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Colin was lying full length in the shadow of the ruined walls and tumbled masonries that crowned the cliff at the east end of the island.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
wind-bitten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would find it for herself, she said; he need not disturb himself.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading A few yards away was the wind-bitten edge from which the huge rock plunged sheer into the sea.
