used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you hungry?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last I drew a long breath.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
for the reason that
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading At last I drew a long breath.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
the act of discovering something
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading At last I drew a long breath.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
embarrassingadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəsɪŋ/
hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
only a very short time before
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
horridadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəd/
exceedingly bad
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading "Are you hungry?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
immediately past
From this reading At last I drew a long breath.
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 FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
a particular point in time
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
not any; not one
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
restraintnounUS /rɪˈstreɪnt/
the act of controlling by restraining someone or something
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
cut with a saw
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
SPREADSnounUS /spredz/
plural of “spread” — process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading FATE SPREADS AN ISLAND FEAST I don't know how long we sat silent on the beach.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Such silence was never embarrassing to her, because it seemed perfectly normal and usual, and I was too busy with my thoughts to feel any sense of restraint.
a late time of life
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet they were hardly thoughts: my head whirled in a confusion of regret and desire, and one moment my blood ran warm with the joy of my discovery, and the next a horrid chill crept over me as I saw my empty years--for if she might not fill them, no one else should.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you hungry?"
