used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Tom stirred uneasily and brushed his nose with his hand.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/
darkened by smoke
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
blinkedverbUS /blɪŋkt/
past form of “blink” — briefly shut the eyes
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading Tom stirred uneasily and brushed his nose with his hand.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tent had disappeared; Dan had disappeared; Nelson had disappeared; everyone had disappeared!
DimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The tent had disappeared; Dan had disappeared; Nelson had disappeared; everyone had disappeared!
let fall to the ground
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
every person
From this reading The tent had disappeared; Dan had disappeared; Nelson had disappeared; everyone had disappeared!
opinion or judgment
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
start firing a weapon
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Tom stirred uneasily and brushed his nose with his hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Tom stirred uneasily and brushed his nose with his hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
immediately past
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
moisturenounUS /ˈmɔɪstʃər/
wetness caused by water
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
NelsonnounUS /ˈnelsən/
English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)
From this reading The tent had disappeared; Dan had disappeared; Nelson had disappeared; everyone had disappeared!
night'snounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Tom stirred uneasily and brushed his nose with his hand.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
except for; apart from
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Tom stirred uneasily and brushed his nose with his hand.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading The tent had disappeared; Dan had disappeared; Nelson had disappeared; everyone had disappeared!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The tent had disappeared; Dan had disappeared; Nelson had disappeared; everyone had disappeared!
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
ticklingnoun
the act of tickling
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
male cat
From this reading Tom stirred uneasily and brushed his nose with his hand.
uneasilyadverbUS /əˈniːzəli/
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading Tom stirred uneasily and brushed his nose with his hand.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Dimly aware of a change in conditions since he had fallen asleep, he opened his eyes, blinked, and sat up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A drop of moisture had formed on it and was tickling him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Tom stirred uneasily and brushed his nose with his hand.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading There was nothing in sight save, a few feet away, the blackened remains of last night’s fire and the pile of wood which he had collected.
