used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
ailmentsnounUS /ˈeɪlmənts/
plural of “ailment” — an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
courtiersnounUS /ˈkɔːrtiərz/
plural of “courtier” — an attendant at the court of a sovereign
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
cousinsnounUS /ˈkʌzənz/
plural of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
curedadjectiveUS /kjʊrd/
freed from illness or injury
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
the first light of day
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
draughtnounUS /dræft/
a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
at any time
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
start firing a weapon
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
set up or found
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
destroyed or killed
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
homelessnounUS /ˈhoʊmləs/
someone unfortunate without housing
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
huntedadjectiveUS /ˈhʌntəd/
reflecting the fear or terror of one who is hunted
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
temporary military shelter
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
imaginativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/
(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
imperialadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/
relating to or associated with an empire
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
impressiveness in scale or proportion
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
Meran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
mockerynounUS /ˈmɑːkəri/
showing your contempt by derision
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
an old word for “no”
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
not any; not one
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
princelyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪnsli/
ostentatiously rich and superior in quality
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
reignverbUS /reɪn/
have sovereign power
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
remorselessadjectiveUS /rɪˈmɔːrsləs/
without mercy or pity
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
possessing material wealth
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
sanatoriumnoun
a hospital for recuperation or for the treatment of chronic diseases
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
cut with a saw
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
sleepernounUS /ˈsliːpər/
a rester who is sleeping
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
suckedverbUS /sʌkt/
past form of “suck” — draw into the mouth by creating a practical vacuum in the mouth
From this reading For the fire had died out, and an icy draught sucked steadily beneath the doorway.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
summitsnounUS /ˈsʌmɪts/
plural of “summit” — the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
treacherousadjectiveUS /ˈtretʃərəs/
dangerously unstable and unpredictable
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
unfurnishedadjective
not equipped with what is needed especially furniture
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
universenounUS /ˈjuːnəvɜːrs/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
unworshipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
migratory
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
which person or people
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading And a thin, grey dawn, stealing up behind clearing summits in the east, crept then against the windows of the mountain hut.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading For he saw a princely, nay, an imperial Being, homeless for ever, and for ever wandering, hunted as by keen remorseless winds about a universe that held no corner for his feet, his majesty unworshipped, his reign a mockery, his Court unfurnished, and his courtiers mere shadows of deep space....
in the company of; together with
From this reading It brought with it a treacherous, sharp air that made the sleeper draw another blanket near to shelter him from the sudden cold.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
XIInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading XII A BIT OF WOOD He found himself in Meran with some cousins who had various slight ailments, but, being rich and imaginative, had gone to a sanatorium to be cured.
