the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
at or in or to any place
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
corpselike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
coulee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
divisible by two
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
destroyed or killed
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
inchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
KentnounUS /kent/
a county in southeastern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, it was the first to be colonized by the Romans
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
not any; not one
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
relaxedadjectiveUS /rɪˈlækst/
without strain or anxiety
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
shieldingnounUS /ˈʃiːldɪŋ/
the act of shielding from harm
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
in or at that place or location
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
tiptoedverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊd/
past form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes
From this reading Several times he tiptoed into the kitchen, opened the door into the front room an inch or so, and peered in at her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For more than two hours Kent sat outside in the shade of the house, and stared out over the black desolation of the coulee.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
Val's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His horse was gone, so that he could not ride anywhere--and there was nowhere in particular to ride.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The third time, she had relaxed from the corpselike position, and had thrown an arm up over her face, as if she were shielding her eyes from something.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading For twenty miles around there was no woman whom he could bring to Val's assistance, even if he had been sure that she needed assistance.
