used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
anew
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
brusquelyadverbUS /ˈbrʌskli/
in a blunt direct manner
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
choosingverbUS /ˈtʃuːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
characterized by great determination
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
falterverbUS /ˈfɔːltər/
be unsure or weak
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
fascinationnounUS /ˌfæsəˈneɪʃən/
the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
George'snounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒəz/
possessive form of “george” — Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
GillnounUS /ɡɪl/
a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
an occurrence of something
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
and nothing more
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
engage in
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
OwennounUS /ˈoʊən/
Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
have ownership or possession of
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
on the contrary
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
the quality of being significant
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If I wanted to ask Owen Gill, for instance, to come to see me, how could I do so?
in the near future
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
a special situation
From this reading For one thing, his people would not like him to come here; for another, I should not myself care to ask him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That night, for the first time, I felt George’s fascination falter, and it is a fact rather melancholy in its significance that this consciousness came to me in the form of a sense of freedom, of relief.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
at the time that
From this reading He began to talk to me, just as usual, as soon as he had turned out the light, but I told him brusquely to shut up, that I wanted to go to sleep, and when he tried to begin again I let him see I was in earnest.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As I lay there I determined that at Christmas I would make another effort to get into rooms of my own choosing.
