used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He awoke with the tapping still in his ears, as though in continuation of his dream.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading He awoke with the tapping still in his ears, as though in continuation of his dream.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Jimmy had not been sleeping well nights.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
CiviladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
continuationnounUS /kənˌtɪnjuːˈeɪʃən/
the act of continuing an activity without interruption
From this reading He awoke with the tapping still in his ears, as though in continuation of his dream.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
true confidential information
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
dismembermentnounUS /dɪˈsmembərmənt/
the removal of limbs; being cut to pieces
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading He awoke with the tapping still in his ears, as though in continuation of his dream.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
EaglenounUS /ˈiːɡəl/
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading He awoke with the tapping still in his ears, as though in continuation of his dream.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Jimmy had not been sleeping well nights.
harrowingadjectiveUS /ˈheroʊɪŋ/
extremely painful
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He awoke with the tapping still in his ears, as though in continuation of his dream.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading While he was reading this, the telegraph instrument in the telegraph room kept up its intermittent tapping.
intermittentadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt/
stopping and starting at irregular intervals
From this reading While he was reading this, the telegraph instrument in the telegraph room kept up its intermittent tapping.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading Jimmy had not been sleeping well nights.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading While he was reading this, the telegraph instrument in the telegraph room kept up its intermittent tapping.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Jimmy had not been sleeping well nights.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Jimmy had not been sleeping well nights.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
an amount of time
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
reconstructionnounUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkʃən/
the period after the American Civil War when the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union; 1865-1877
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Jimmy had not been sleeping well nights.
not in physical motion
From this reading He awoke with the tapping still in his ears, as though in continuation of his dream.
stressedadjectiveUS /strest/
suffering severe physical strain or distress
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
tappingnounUS /ˈtæpɪŋ/
the sound of light blow or knock
From this reading While he was reading this, the telegraph instrument in the telegraph room kept up its intermittent tapping.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading While he was reading this, the telegraph instrument in the telegraph room kept up its intermittent tapping.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He awoke with the tapping still in his ears, as though in continuation of his dream.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading While he was reading this, the telegraph instrument in the telegraph room kept up its intermittent tapping.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
look attentively
From this reading On this night he dreamed that he was alone in the city room of the Eagle doing the dog watch.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Jimmy had not been sleeping well nights.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While he was reading this, the telegraph instrument in the telegraph room kept up its intermittent tapping.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was reading a history of the Civil War in which was stressed the reconstruction period with its harrowing details, a period under which serious dismemberment of the country was threatened.
