used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
ArcnounUS /ɑːrk/
electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
From this reading "Still dreaming of the New Joan of Arc, Norman?" she asked with playful banter.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Still dreaming of the New Joan of Arc, Norman?" she asked with playful banter.
banternounUS /ˈbæntər/
light teasing repartee
From this reading "Still dreaming of the New Joan of Arc, Norman?" she asked with playful banter.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
beckoningverbUS /ˈbekənɪŋ/
-ing form of “beckon” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I'm going to do it, Elena," he said, with slow, thoughtful emphasis.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading "Still dreaming of the New Joan of Arc, Norman?" she asked with playful banter.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
Elena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elena silently entered and watched him a moment before he saw her.
emphasisnounUS /ˈemfəsəs/
special importance or significance
From this reading "I'm going to do it, Elena," he said, with slow, thoughtful emphasis.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Elena silently entered and watched him a moment before he saw her.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
feverishadjectiveUS /ˈfiːvərɪʃ/
marked by intense agitation or emotion
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
the act of departing
From this reading "I'm going to do it, Elena," he said, with slow, thoughtful emphasis.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
half-formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Elena silently entered and watched him a moment before he saw her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
ten 10s
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm going to do it, Elena," he said, with slow, thoughtful emphasis.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I'm going to do it, Elena," he said, with slow, thoughtful emphasis.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Still dreaming of the New Joan of Arc, Norman?" she asked with playful banter.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
a particular point in time
From this reading Elena silently entered and watched him a moment before he saw her.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading "Still dreaming of the New Joan of Arc, Norman?" she asked with playful banter.
NormannounUS /ˈnɔːrmən/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
playfuladjectiveUS /ˈpleɪfəl/
full of fun and high spirits
From this reading "Still dreaming of the New Joan of Arc, Norman?" she asked with playful banter.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I'm going to do it, Elena," he said, with slow, thoughtful emphasis.
cut with a saw
From this reading Elena silently entered and watched him a moment before he saw her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Still dreaming of the New Joan of Arc, Norman?" she asked with playful banter.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
without speaking
From this reading Elena silently entered and watched him a moment before he saw her.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading "I'm going to do it, Elena," he said, with slow, thoughtful emphasis.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
SocialistsnounUS /ˈsoʊʃələsts/
plural of “socialist” — a political advocate of socialism
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
not in physical motion
From this reading "Still dreaming of the New Joan of Arc, Norman?" she asked with playful banter.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MAN Norman stood silent and thoughtful before the fire in the dining-room, the morning after the meeting of the Socialists.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I'm going to do it, Elena," he said, with slow, thoughtful emphasis.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Elena silently entered and watched him a moment before he saw her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His sleep had been feverish and a hundred half-formed dreams had haunted the moments in which he had lost consciousness with always the shining face of Barbara smiling and beckoning him on.
