used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
bearsnounUS /berz/
plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
uncastrated adult male of domestic cattle
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
comfortingadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtɪŋ/
providing freedom from worry
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
demanding attention
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
dreamlessadjective
untroubled by dreams
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
any strong feeling
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
at any time
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
fatherʼs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
fearingverbUS /ˈfɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
GarnetnounUS /ˈɡɑːrnət/
any of a group of hard glassy minerals (silicates of various metals) used as gemstones and as an abrasive
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/
the state of having committed an offense
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
and nothing more
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
outbreaknounUS /ˈaʊtbreɪk/
a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
PearlnounUS /pɜːrl/
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
determined
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
shieldnounUS /ʃiːld/
a protective covering or structure
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
a male human offspring
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
staplenounUS /ˈsteɪpəl/
(usually in the plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
express in words
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
tenderlyadverbUS /ˈtendərli/
with tenderness; in a tender manner
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
precisely as stated
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading That night the man of violence enjoyed the first sweet dreamless sleep that had spread its velvet shield between him and his guilt and sorrow.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading All this we need not try to tell, only so much as bears upon the staple of the story.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The very next day, Bull Garnet resolved to have it out with his son; not to surprise him by emotion to a hasty issue, but now to learn what he thought and felt, after taking his time about it.
which person or people
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Through many months of trouble, now, she had watched him kindly, tenderly, fearing ever some wild outbreak upon others or himself, hiding in her empty heart all its desolation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Pearl, who had sat up late with Bob, comforting and crying with him, listened at her fatherʼs door, and heard his quiet breathing.
