used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
abstractionnounUS /æbˈstrækʃən/
a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
annoyancenounUS /əˈnɔɪəns/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading ‘What brings you here, Watt?’ asked Jasper, disguising his annoyance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading ‘What brings you here, Watt?’ asked Jasper, disguising his annoyance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
BARBARA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
blue-orbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, Jasper, composing verses to the weak-eyed Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?’
third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading ‘What brings you here, Watt?’ asked Jasper, disguising his annoyance.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
composingnounUS /kəmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading ‘Well, Jasper, composing verses to the weak-eyed Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?’
dewnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
disguisingverbUS /dɪsˈɡaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “disguise” — make unrecognizable
From this reading ‘What brings you here, Watt?’ asked Jasper, disguising his annoyance.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading ‘What brings you here, Watt?’ asked Jasper, disguising his annoyance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
JaspernounUS /ˈdʒæspər/
an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
the sound of laughing
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
Leah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, Jasper, composing verses to the weak-eyed Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?’
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
meditationsnounUS /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “meditation” — continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading ‘Well, Jasper, composing verses to the weak-eyed Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?’
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
OWLSnounUS /aʊlz/
plural of “owl” — nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading THE OWLS.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
parchedadjectiveUS /pɑːrtʃt/
dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
RachelnounUS /ˈreɪtʃəl/
(Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin
From this reading ‘Well, Jasper, composing verses to the weak-eyed Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?’
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OWLS.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘Well, Jasper, composing verses to the weak-eyed Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?’
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading ‘Well, Jasper, composing verses to the weak-eyed Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?’
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BARBARA had been interrupted in her meditations, so was Jasper.
WattnounUS /wɑːt/
a unit of power equal to 1 joule per second; the power dissipated by a current of 1 ampere flowing across a resistance of 1 ohm
From this reading ‘What brings you here, Watt?’ asked Jasper, disguising his annoyance.
weak-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Well, Jasper, composing verses to the weak-eyed Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?’
(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 ‘Well, Jasper, composing verses to the weak-eyed Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?’
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ‘What brings you here, Watt?’ asked Jasper, disguising his annoyance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As he stood lost in a painful dream, but with a dew from heaven falling on his parched soul, suddenly he was startled out of his abstraction by a laugh and an exclamation at his elbow.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘What brings you here, Watt?’ asked Jasper, disguising his annoyance.
