used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading Anne was so absorbed in her work that she was oblivious to everything about her.
anew
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading Anne was so absorbed in her work that she was oblivious to everything about her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
terminate
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
buzzesnounUS /ˈbʌzɪz/
plural of “buzz” — sound of rapid vibration
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
drawsnounUS /drɔːz/
plural of “draw” — a gully that is shallower than a ravine
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/
weak from exhaustion
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Anne was so absorbed in her work that she was oblivious to everything about her.
examinationsnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “examination” — the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
fataladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtəl/
bringing death
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
foolscapnoun
a size of paper used especially in Britain
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Anne was so absorbed in her work that she was oblivious to everything about her.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
loomverbUS /luːm/
come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
monstrousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːnstrəs/
abnormally large
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
not one thing; not anything
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
obliviousadjectiveUS /əˈblɪviəs/
(followed by “to” or “of”) lacking conscious awareness of
From this reading Anne was so absorbed in her work that she was oblivious to everything about her.
obstaclesnounUS /ˈɑːbstəkəlz/
plural of “obstacle” — something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
win a victory over
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
pairsnounUS /perz/
plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
the time that has elapsed
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
pensnounUS /penz/
plural of “pen” — a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
risesnounUS /ˈraɪzəz/
plural of “rise” — a growth in strength or number or importance
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
except for; apart from
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
scratchingnounUS /ˈskrætʃɪŋ/
a harsh noise made by scraping
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
sitsverbUS /sɪts/
third-person singular of “sit” — be seated
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
move stealthily
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Anne was so absorbed in her work that she was oblivious to everything about her.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
storedverbUS /stɔːrd/
past form of “store” — keep or lay aside for future use
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
studentnounUS /ˈstuːdənt/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
teachernounUS /ˈtiːtʃər/
a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
tiptoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT How examinations loom up on the fatal day, like monstrous obstacles that must be overcome!
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Anne was so absorbed in her work that she was oblivious to everything about her.
look attentively
From this reading She can do nothing, now, but keep watch on the pairs of drooping shoulders and the tired, flushed faces.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
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 A fly buzzes on the window pane; a teacher rises, tiptoes slowly about the room and sits down again.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
in the company of; together with
From this reading How the hours slip past, with nothing to break the stillness save the scratching of pens on foolscap paper, while each student draws upon the supply of knowledge stored up during the winter months!
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Anne was so absorbed in her work that she was oblivious to everything about her.
