used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I’ve always longed to live in a house where there were white peacocks.
the state of being absent
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
allusionnounUS /əˈluːʒən/
passing reference or indirect mention
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading “I’ve always longed to live in a house where there were white peacocks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They are the most poetic creatures in the world.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “There should be white peacocks here,” he murmured idly.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading They are the most poetic creatures in the world.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “There should be white peacocks here,” he murmured idly.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading “I’ve always longed to live in a house where there were white peacocks.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ve always longed to live in a house where there were white peacocks.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading “There should be white peacocks here,” he murmured idly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I’ve always longed to live in a house where there were white peacocks.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading “I’ve always longed to live in a house where there were white peacocks.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading “I’ve always longed to live in a house where there were white peacocks.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
used to form the superlative
From this reading They are the most poetic creatures in the world.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading “There should be white peacocks here,” he murmured idly.
not any; not one
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
OwennounUS /ˈoʊən/
Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
peacocksnounUS /ˈpiːkɑːks/
plural of “peacock” — European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot
From this reading “There should be white peacocks here,” he murmured idly.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
poeticadjectiveUS /poʊˈetɪk/
of or relating to poetry
From this reading They are the most poetic creatures in the world.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “There should be white peacocks here,” he murmured idly.
in the near future
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
not in physical motion
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
strolledverbUS /stroʊld/
past form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There should be white peacocks here,” he murmured idly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are the most poetic creatures in the world.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I’ve always longed to live in a house where there were white peacocks.
at the time that
From this reading No allusion was made to our absence when we returned to the others.
in or at the place that
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
a Caucasian
From this reading “There should be white peacocks here,” he murmured idly.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Gerald was still playing, but he got up as soon as we entered, and strolled over to the window, where he stood beside Owen, looking out.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They are the most poetic creatures in the world.
