used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FALLEN SATELLITE.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
awaitverbUS /əˈweɪt/
look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The three minutes passed, and she did not come.
comfortablyadverbUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbli/
in mental comfort; without stress
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The three minutes passed, and she did not come.
an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading A FALLEN SATELLITE.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
half-reclining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
and nothing more
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
Margaret's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The three minutes passed, and she did not come.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The three minutes passed, and she did not come.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The three minutes passed, and she did not come.
by chance
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
SATELLITEnounUS /ˈsætəlaɪt/
man-made equipment that orbits around the earth or the moon
From this reading A FALLEN SATELLITE.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The three minutes passed, and she did not come.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
be seated
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
make square
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
steamernounUS /ˈstiːmər/
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The three minutes passed, and she did not come.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three minutes passed, and she did not come.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await Margaret’s return.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
look attentively
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so round.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book.
