used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
bowlnounUS /boʊl/
a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
brutalitynounUS /bruːˈtæləti/
the trait of extreme cruelty
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
ceruleannoun
a light shade of blue
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
correspondingadjectiveUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndɪŋ/
accompanying
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A thinning of the dark expanded through the room.
the first light of day
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
remove the dust from
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
expandedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspændəd/
increased in extent or size or bulk or scope
From this reading A thinning of the dark expanded through the room.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
hoofsnounUS /hʊfs/
plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
infinitynounUS /ˌɪnˈfɪnɪti/
time without end
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
plural of “keep” — the financial means whereby one lives
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
lightnessnounUS /ˈlaɪtnəs/
a feeling of joy and pride
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
not any; not one
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
a brief written record
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
pitchersnounUS /ˈpɪtʃərz/
plural of “pitcher” — (baseball) the person who does the pitching
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A thinning of the dark expanded through the room.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
thinningnounUS /ˈθɪnɪŋ/
the act of diluting something
From this reading A thinning of the dark expanded through the room.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A thinning of the dark expanded through the room.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
tormentnounUS /ˈtɔːrment/
unbearable physical pain
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was no corresponding lightness in his spirit; periods like this extended into an infinity of torment beyond time.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading A cerulean unnatural dawn crept about him: there was the muffled clatter of horses' hoofs in the dust outside; a locomotive whistled in a far universal key.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “They will find us, in the morning, in a bowl and two pitchers.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
You'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You'll be able to, if this keeps up,” he observed, with a note of brutality.
