used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
achingadjectiveUS /ˈeɪkɪŋ/
causing a dull and steady pain
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
at or in the front
From this reading Ruth had looked ahead to the day not without foreboding.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "I want to have something to take away with me to remember."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
etherealadjectiveUS /ɪˈθɪriəl/
characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
forebodingnounUS /fɔːrˈboʊdɪŋ/
a feeling of evil to come
From this reading Ruth had looked ahead to the day not without foreboding.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
yet to be or coming
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
a young female
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
death of a person
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I want to have something to take away with me to remember."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I want to have something to take away with me to remember."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
and nothing more
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Ruth had looked ahead to the day not without foreboding.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
nearnessnoun
the spatial property resulting from a relatively small distance
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
a condition requiring relief
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ruth had looked ahead to the day not without foreboding.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
pleadedverbUS /ˈpliːdɪd/
past form of “plead” — appeal or request earnestly
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
To recall to mind.
From this reading "I want to have something to take away with me to remember."
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Ruth had looked ahead to the day not without foreboding.
saneadjectiveUS /seɪn/
mentally healthy; free from mental disorder
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
a person, without saying who
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "I want to have something to take away with me to remember."
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
not in physical motion
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
carry out
From this reading "I want to have something to take away with me to remember."
express in words
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
in or at that place or location
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
thistledownnoun
pappus of a thistle consisting of silky featherlike hairs attached to the seed-like fruit of a thistle
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
uncoververbUS /ənˈkʌvər/
remove all or part of one's clothes to show one's body
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
visioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "I want to have something to take away with me to remember."
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
at the time that
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
in or at the place that
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
in the company of; together with
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Ruth had looked ahead to the day not without foreboding.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Why, in the name of all that was sane, she wondered, should a man want to go and uncover the grave of his dreams at a time when he should be fighting to forget them?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If he wanted her to witness the agony, of course she would be there--he would need someone--but to see him staring into the ruins of an old house at the ghost picture of the future he had visioned, to know that he was still aching for the nearness of an ethereal bit of thistledown of a girl, and to be unable to tell him just where he had been blind!
you'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If you'd just come out with me to the hill place for one day," Billy had pleaded.
