used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
of short duration or distance
From this reading For one brief second the unfamiliar sight startled him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
calendarnounUS /ˈkæləndər/
a system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
DawsonnounUS /ˈdɔːsən/
a town in northwestern Canada in the Yukon on the Yukon River; a boom town around 1900 when gold was discovered in the Klondike
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
eyedadjectiveUS /aɪd/
having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
of great significance or value
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
a particular point in time
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
To recall to mind.
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
cut with a saw
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For one brief second the unfamiliar sight startled him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading For one brief second the unfamiliar sight startled him.
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading For one brief second the unfamiliar sight startled him.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He knew there was some reason, an important one, but for the life of him he couldn't remember.
a special situation
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading For one brief second the unfamiliar sight startled him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
precisely as stated
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
at the time that
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
in or at the place that
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He struggled with the problem for a moment or two and then sat up in bed and glanced about the room.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading The first thing Dave Dawson saw when he woke up was the combination clock and calendar on the little table beside his bed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He stared at it sleepy eyed and tried to remember why he had put it where he would see it the very first thing when he opened his eyes.
