used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He was alone, quite alone, that was the thought that haunted him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/
a passageway under a curved masonry construction
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
archways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
in a state of sleep
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
bunnounUS /bʌn/
small rounded bread either plain or sweet
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
DIDauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
divisible by two
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
your parents
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
friendlessadjective
excluded from a society
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading He was alone, quite alone, that was the thought that haunted him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
not any; not one
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
many times at short intervals
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
outwardlyadverbUS /ˈaʊtwərdli/
with respect to the outside
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
philanthropist's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
a person who is being chased
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
with speed
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He was alone, quite alone, that was the thought that haunted him.
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
rubbingnounUS /ˈrʌbɪŋ/
the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading He had often slept under archways, and his position outwardly was no different from what it had been the night before.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He was alone, quite alone, that was the thought that haunted him.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
precisely as stated
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Suddenly he was awakened by a very gentle sound in his ear, and the sensation of something warm rubbing his cheek.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading _WHAT THE COUNTRY FOLKS DID FOR HIM._ That night Robin, for the first time, as far as man was concerned, utterly friendless, lay down under an archway to sleep.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading The philanthropist's pocket handkerchief had yielded him a bun for his supper; he was not hungry, he was stupid and tired from sorrow, and he quickly fell asleep; but his sleep was not happy, his loneliness pursued him even into the land of dreams.
