used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
brought into existence
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
terminate
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
contrives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
dominationnounUS /ˌdɑːməˈneɪʃən/
social control by dominating
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
enchantments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “Yes; and hears for the first time the free and joyous songs of its kind.”
fleecyadjectiveUS /ˈfliːsi/
(of fabrics) having soft nap produced by brushing
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Yes; and hears for the first time the free and joyous songs of its kind.”
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading “Yes; and hears for the first time the free and joyous songs of its kind.”
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
harmoniesnounUS /ˈhɑːrməniz/
plural of “harmony” — compatibility in opinion and action
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
hearsverbUS /hiːrz/
third-person singular of “hear” — perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading “Yes; and hears for the first time the free and joyous songs of its kind.”
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
insolentadjectiveUS /ˈɪnsələnt/
marked by casual disrespect
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
joyousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪəs/
full of or characterized by joy
From this reading “Yes; and hears for the first time the free and joyous songs of its kind.”
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “Yes; and hears for the first time the free and joyous songs of its kind.”
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
immediately past
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
engage in
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
mountingnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
a condition requiring relief
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
pitifuladjectiveUS /ˈpɪtəfəl/
inspiring mixed contempt and pity
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
rapturouslyadverb
in an ecstatic manner
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
with low volume
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words
From this reading “Yes; and hears for the first time the free and joyous songs of its kind.”
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
tastesnounUS /teɪsts/
plural of “taste” — the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Yes; and hears for the first time the free and joyous songs of its kind.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
voidadjectiveUS /vɔɪd/
lacking any legal or binding force
From this reading It flies into heaven, mounting rapturously into the void, and it sees the sun, the tops of the trees, the green fields, the fleecy clouds, and it tastes the bright air.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
a flaw or weak point
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
which person or people
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They seemed to pause to look upon one another with violently beating hearts: the man in his strength, in his insolent domination; the woman in her weakness, in her pitiful need.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
a late time of life
From this reading “It is truly wonderful,” the woman muttered softly as if to herself, “to live forty years without knowledge and without curiosity, and then to awake in a night to the seas of color, the harmonies of music that make the enchantments of the life we have never perceived.”
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes; and hears for the first time the free and joyous songs of its kind.”
but in spite of that
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “You are like a bird,” said the young man, “who has been born in a cage, yet who contrives at last to break through its bars.
