used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SANDY PLAYS A LONE HAND “Wake up!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
befuddledadjectiveUS /bɪˈfʌdəld/
stupefied by alcoholic drink
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
collectverbUS /kəˈlekt/
get or gather together
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
endeavoringverbUS /ɪnˈdevərɪŋ/
-ing form of “endeavor” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
half-reclined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
half-sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading SANDY PLAYS A LONE HAND “Wake up!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
LONEadjectiveUS /loʊn/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading SANDY PLAYS A LONE HAND “Wake up!
miraclenounUS /ˈmɪrəkəl/
any amazing or wonderful occurrence
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading SANDY PLAYS A LONE HAND “Wake up!
in the near future
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
rubverbUS /rʌb/
move over something with pressure
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
SANDYadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading SANDY PLAYS A LONE HAND “Wake up!
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Something had fallen near the bed—a dull clatter of some sort.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading SANDY PLAYS A LONE HAND “Wake up!
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading SANDY PLAYS A LONE HAND “Wake up!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A light was shining in Dick’s face and he was being shaken roughly by the shoulders.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then a voice raised slightly, then more voices, and, presently, as Dick half-sat, half-reclined on his spruce couch, endeavoring to rub the sleep from his eyes and collect his befuddled senses, he perceived what seemed to be at first a miracle.
