AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A subdued but continuous whispering irritated Calvin Gray.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
askingnounUS /ˈæskɪŋ/
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
bedroomnounUS /ˈbedruːm/
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
borderlandnoun
district consisting of the area on either side of a border or boundary of a country or an area
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
boreverbUS /bɔːr/
cause to be bored
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
brainnounUS /breɪn/
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A subdued but continuous whispering irritated Calvin Gray.
CalvinnounUS /ˈkælvən/
United States chemist noted for discovering the series of chemical reactions in photosynthesis (1911-)
From this reading A subdued but continuous whispering irritated Calvin Gray.
consciousnessnounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəsnəs/
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading A subdued but continuous whispering irritated Calvin Gray.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
discoververbUS /dɪˈskʌvər/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
distortedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɔːrtəd/
so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
dullyadverb
without liveliness
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
EvidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
fellownounUS /ˈfeloʊ/
a boy or man
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
GraynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading A subdued but continuous whispering irritated Calvin Gray.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
indistinctadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/
not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
irritatedadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtəd/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading A subdued but continuous whispering irritated Calvin Gray.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
lassitudenoun
a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
low-pitchedadjective
used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/
in motion
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
oddlyadverbUS /ˈɑːdli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
originnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
penumbraladjective
of or pertaining to the region of partial shadow around an umbra
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
persistedverbUS /pərˈsɪstɪd/
past form of “persist” — continue to exist
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
recognizeverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/
accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
refusedverbUS /rəˈfjuːzd/
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
shapenounUS /ʃeɪp/
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
sleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
sleptverbUS /slept/
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
stupefiedadjective
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading A subdued but continuous whispering irritated Calvin Gray.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading A thousand indistinct memories were moving about in the penumbral borderland of consciousness, but they refused to take shape.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
unaccustomedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌstəmd/
unusual or unfamiliar
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading He lay, for some time, trying to recognize his unfamiliar surroundings; oddly enough, he could not discover the origin of that low-pitched murmur, since there was nobody in his bedroom.
visionnounUS /ˈvɪʒən/
a vivid mental image
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Evidently he had slept too hard, for his eyes were heavy, his vision was distorted, and an unaccustomed lassitude bore down his body and stupefied his brain.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading A subdued but continuous whispering irritated Calvin Gray.
whynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading When it persisted, minute after minute, he opened his eyes, asking himself, dully, why it was that people couldn't let a fellow sleep.
