used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
on or to one side
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
BaileynounUS /ˈbeɪli/
United States singer (1918-1990)
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
beamedverbUS /biːmd/
past form of “beam” — smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
carefully weighed
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
the first light of day
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
recognizable; marked
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
devourverbUS /dɪˈvaʊər/
destroy completely
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
mischievousadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstʃəvəs/
naughtily or annoyingly playful
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
naturesnounUS /ˈneɪtʃərz/
plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
by chance
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
recurredverbUS /riˈkɜːrd/
inflected form of “recur” — happen or occur again
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
the act of searching for something
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
sniffedverbUS /snɪft/
past form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
a special situation
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In this mood there suddenly recurred to him the night before, and though he was alone he beamed to himself at the recollection of it.
in the direction of
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
wakefuladjective
carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He first considered, in that minute manner to which such natures are given, how best he could reply, and in a little while he had decided.
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 morning was fresh; he went and pulled aside the curtain, he threw open the window towards the day, and sniffed the eager air; his mischievous brain was alert and full of plans; he was seeking what he might devour.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Next morning Mr. Bailey woke at dawn, a rare thing for him and an unpleasant one.
wonderfullyadverbUS /ˈwʌndərfəli/
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
From this reading He did not ring his bell: he hoped perhaps for further sleep, but he felt wonderfully wakeful.
