adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/
having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
arrivalnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
attacknounUS /əˈtæk/
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/
space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
failurenounUS /ˈfeɪljər/
an act that fails
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
immediateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːət/
of the present time and place
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
MichaelnounUS /ˈmaɪkəl/
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But at present she had spoken no word.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
OnceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading But at present she had spoken no word.
rareadjectiveUS /rer/
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
recogniseverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/
show approval or appreciation of
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
recoveringadjectiveUS /rəˈkʌvərɪŋ/
returning to health after illness or debility
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
sankverbUS /sæŋk/
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
semi-conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
shownverbUS /ʃoʊn/
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
signsnounUS /saɪnz/
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
smiledverbUS /smaɪld/
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
spokenadjectiveUS /ˈspoʊkən/
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading But at present she had spoken no word.
statenounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
stupornounUS /ˈstuːpər/
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
summonedverbUS /ˈsʌmənd/
past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But in those rare short intervals she had opened her eyes, and had seemed to see and recognise him, and Michael thought that once she had smiled at him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
twiceadverbUS /twaɪs/
two times
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
vitalitynounUS /vaɪˈtæləti/
an energetic style
From this reading Once or twice only, and that but for a moment she had shown signs of increasing vitality, and then sank back into this stupor again.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Michael was sitting that same afternoon by his mother’s bedside.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had learned the little there was to be told him on his arrival in the morning; how that half an hour before he had been summoned, she had had an attack of heart failure, and since then, after recovering from the acute and immediate danger, she had lain there all day with closed eyes in a state of but semi-conscious exhaustion.
wordnounUS /wɜːrd/
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading But at present she had spoken no word.
