used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
buttsnounUS /bʌts/
plural of “butt” — thick end of the handle
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
credibleadjectiveUS /ˈkredəbəl/
capable of being believed
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
distortedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɔːrtəd/
so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
drowsinessnounUS /ˈdraʊzinəs/
a very sleepy state
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The mute solitude of the scene gave his loneliness a new pang.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
hoofsnounUS /hʊfs/
plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
immediately past
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
the sound of laughing
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading The mute solitude of the scene gave his loneliness a new pang.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
muteadjectiveUS /mjuːt/
expressed without speech
From this reading The mute solitude of the scene gave his loneliness a new pang.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The mute solitude of the scene gave his loneliness a new pang.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
pangnounUS /pæŋ/
a sudden sharp feeling
From this reading The mute solitude of the scene gave his loneliness a new pang.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
performancesnounUS /pərˈfɔːrmənsəz/
plural of “performance” — a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
phantasmanoun
a ghostly appearing figure
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
roadwaynounUS /ˈroʊdweɪ/
a road (especially that part of a road) over which vehicles travel
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
saneadjectiveUS /seɪn/
mentally healthy; free from mental disorder
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The mute solitude of the scene gave his loneliness a new pang.
SEARCHINGadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
shodadjectiveUS /ʃɑːd/
wearing footgear
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading The mute solitude of the scene gave his loneliness a new pang.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He lay long enough to separate the fiction of this dream from the actual but not more credible performances of the night before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
(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 He saw that it was late afternoon, for the shadows of the water butts ran well to the east.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
WILDERNESSnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
in the company of; together with
From this reading SEARCHING THE WILDERNESS He awoke from a dream noisy with laughter and the ring of shod hoofs on a stone roadway; a phantasma in which faces were gray and distorted through smoke and people did wild things in sane ways.
yawningadjectiveUS /ˈjɔːnɪŋ/
gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something
From this reading Then he rose, yawning away the last of his drowsiness, and looked out over the roofs.
