used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
anew
From this reading Again she stood looking at its strange interior and its puzzling tenant.
(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 With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Again she stood looking at its strange interior and its puzzling tenant.
battledverbUS /ˈbætəld/
past form of “battle” — battle or contend against in or as if in a battle
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
birchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
the two together, not just one
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
yet to be or coming
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
GamblersnounUS /ˈɡæmblərz/
plural of “gambler” — a person who wagers money on the outcome of games or sporting events
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading Again she stood looking at its strange interior and its puzzling tenant.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Again she stood looking at its strange interior and its puzzling tenant.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Again she stood looking at its strange interior and its puzzling tenant.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
musedverbUS /mjuːzd/
past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading “Gamblers’ Island,” she mused.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
nearedverbUS /nɪrd/
past form of “near” — move towards
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
on one occasion
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
pillowsnounUS /ˈpɪloʊz/
plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading Again she stood looking at its strange interior and its puzzling tenant.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
reposing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
cut with a saw
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Again she stood looking at its strange interior and its puzzling tenant.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Again she stood looking at its strange interior and its puzzling tenant.
tenantnounUS /ˈtenənt/
someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
From this reading Again she stood looking at its strange interior and its puzzling tenant.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
vividnessnounUS /ˈvɪvədnəs/
interest and variety and intensity
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Once more beneath the moon she battled her way toward the mystery cabin on the island.
a Caucasian
From this reading That evening Florence, reposing on an affair of white birch and pillows that was half chair and half couch, lived for a time in both the past and the future.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a vividness that was all but real, she saw the gleam of black waters as they neared Gamblers’ Island.
