used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Somewhere, a million miles away, was a pinpoint of light.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was night, and everything was very dark.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Somewhere, a million miles away, was a pinpoint of light.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
for the reason that
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
BUCKverbUS /bʌk/
to strive with determination
From this reading "BUCK UP, SCHOOL!"
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was night, and everything was very dark.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading It was night, and everything was very dark.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
forwardsadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərdz/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was night, and everything was very dark.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Somewhere, a million miles away, was a pinpoint of light.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Somewhere, a million miles away, was a pinpoint of light.
millionnounUS /ˈmɪljən/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading Somewhere, a million miles away, was a pinpoint of light.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was night, and everything was very dark.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Somewhere, a million miles away, was a pinpoint of light.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
pinpointnounUS /ˈpɪnpɔɪnt/
a very brief moment
From this reading Somewhere, a million miles away, was a pinpoint of light.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
an educational institution
From this reading "BUCK UP, SCHOOL!"
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
in or at or to some place
From this reading Somewhere, a million miles away, was a pinpoint of light.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
a special situation
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "BUCK UP, SCHOOL!"
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was night, and everything was very dark.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was night, and everything was very dark.
in or at the place that
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He kept his eyes fixed upon it, because it seemed the one thing in the world where there was any hope.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Someone was swinging him backwards and forwards through space, sometimes bringing him near the light and then drawing him steadily back until it seemed that he would never reach it.
