used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading In his room Dickie lay across his bed.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
aimlessadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmləs/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading In his room Dickie lay across his bed.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
blazedverbUS /bleɪzd/
past form of “blaze” — shine brightly and intensively
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
bumpedverbUS /bʌmpt/
past form of “bump” — knock against with force or violence
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
buzzedverbUS /bʌzd/
past form of “buzz” — make a buzzing sound
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
the first light of day
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
defeatedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfiːtəd/
beaten or overcome; not victorious
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
DickienounUS /ˈdɪki/
a small third seat in the back of an old-fashioned two-seater
From this reading In his room Dickie lay across his bed.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
FLAMESnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his room Dickie lay across his bed.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
IcarusnounUS /ˈɪkɜːrəs/
(Greek mythology) son of Daedalus; while escaping from Crete with his father (using the wings Daedalus had made) he flew too close to the sun and the wax melted and he fell into the Aegean and drowned
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
an iconic mental representation
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In his room Dickie lay across his bed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In his room Dickie lay across his bed.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
mazyadjective
resembling a labyrinth in form or complexity
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
odorousadjectiveUS /ˈoʊdərəs/
having odor or a characteristic odor
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In his room Dickie lay across his bed.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
shatteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərd/
ruined or disrupted
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
slendernessnoun
the quality of being slight or inadequate
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
stiflingnounUS /ˈstaɪflɪŋ/
forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
stupornounUS /ˈstuːpər/
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
symbolnounUS /ˈsɪmbəl/
an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FLAMES A hot, dry day followed on the cool dawn.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
the topmost one of two
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
inflected form of “weep” — shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
From this reading He had wept out the first shock of his anger and his shame; now he lay in a despairing stupor.
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 The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The sun blazed in at his single long window; the big flies that had risen from the dirty yard buzzed and bumped against the upper pane and made aimless, endless, mazy circles above and below one another in the stifling, odorous atmosphere.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Dickie lay there like an image of Icarus, an eternal symbol of defeated youth; one could almost see about his slenderness the trailing, shattered wings.
