used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
(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 THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading But the daytime seemed always long.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the daytime seemed always long.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
consequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
currentsnounUS /ˈkɜːrənts/
plural of “current” — a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
daytimenounUS /ˈdeɪtaɪm/
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading But the daytime seemed always long.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
desiresnounUS /dɪˈzaɪərz/
plural of “desire” — the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
at any time
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
GallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
imprisonmentnounUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənmənt/
putting someone in prison or in jail as lawful punishment
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
Jimbo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
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 But the daytime seemed always long.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
longingsnounUS /ˈlɔːŋɪŋz/
plural of “longing” — prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
MemoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
a particular point in time
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
cut with a saw
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But the daytime seemed always long.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
in a swift manner
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
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 He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
unsatisfiedadjectiveUS /ənˈsætɪsfaɪd/
not having been satisfied
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
precisely as stated
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The imprisonment was telling upon him, and he grew very thin, and consequently very light.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
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 He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The nights, though he spent them alone, were easily borne, for he was then intensely occupied, and the time passed swiftly; the moment it was dark he stepped into the Gallery of Memories, and in a little while passed into a new world of wonder and delight.
yearningsnounUS /ˈjɜːrnɪŋz/
plural of “yearning” — prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading He stood for hours by the window watching the trees and the sky, and what he saw always set painful currents running through his blood--unsatisfied longings, yearnings, and immense desires he never could understand.
but in spite of that
From this reading THE MEANS OF ESCAPE A week passed, and Jimbo began to wonder if the pains he so much dreaded, yet so eagerly longed for, were ever coming at all.
