used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
achedverbUS /eɪkt/
past form of “ache” — feel physical pain
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
Alix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
aspirinnounUS /ˈæsprɪn/
the acetylated derivative of salicylic acid; used as an analgesic anti-inflammatory drug (trade names Bayer, Empirin, and St. Joseph) usually taken in tablet form; used as an antipyretic; slows clotting of the blood by poisoning platelets
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
for the reason that
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading She felt cold and low.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
energiesnounUS /ˈenərdʒiz/
plural of “energy” — (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt cold and low.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
cause to move by striking
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
insistentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstənt/
repetitive and persistent
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
go away from a place
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading She felt cold and low.
easily agitated
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
held or filled or in use
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
parapetnounUS /ˈperəpet/
a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
compacted by ironing
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
on the contrary
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
rugnounUS /rʌɡ/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
cut with a saw
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
in an aggressive manner
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
superiorsnounUS /suːˈpɪriərz/
plural of “superior” — one of greater rank or station or quality
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
tabletsnounUS /ˈtæbləts/
plural of “tablet” — a slab of stone or wood suitable for bearing an inscription
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
trenchnounUS /trentʃ/
a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earth
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
hard to endure
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She had taken two aspirin tablets because her head ached, and really one is enough.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading EVENING IN CHURCH Alix was huddled on her bed in a rug.
white-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading She was occupied in not thinking about Paul or the war; it was rather a difficult operation, and took her whole energies.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
people who are wounded
From this reading Paul was insistent; she pressed her hands against her eyes and saw him on the darkness, her little brother, white-faced, with the nervous smile she knew; Paul in a trench, among the wounded and killed, seeing things, hearing things ... taken suddenly sick ... unable to leave off ... putting his head above the parapet, trying to get hit, called sharply to order by superiors....
