used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
the state of being absent
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
anew
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
ALIBInounUS /ˈæləbaɪ/
(law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
(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 There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
in a state of sleep
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
BRUCEnounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Gradually his head sank down upon the table.
dreamilyadverb
in a dreamy manner
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
in a serious manner
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
opinion or judgment
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
gotta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Gradually his head sank down upon the table.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
HawkinsnounUS /ˈhɔːkɪnz/
English privateer involved in the slave trade; later helped build the fleet that in 1588 defeated the Spanish Armada (1532-1595)
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Gradually his head sank down upon the table.
hieverb
move hurridly
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
languornoun
a relaxed comfortable feeling
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
reposeverbUS /riˈpoʊz/
put or confide something in a person or thing
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Gradually his head sank down upon the table.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
not in physical motion
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Gradually his head sank down upon the table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gradually his head sank down upon the table.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I--hie!--gotta think this--out,” said Hawkins earnestly--and fell asleep.
unseeingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAPTER SIX--THE ALIBI |JOHN BRUCE opened his eyes dreamily, unseeingly; and then his eyelids fluttered and closed again.
unsteadyadjectiveUS /ənˈstedi/
subject to change or variation
From this reading Hawkins, as it grew later still, became unsteady in his seat.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Gradually his head sank down upon the table.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was an exquisite sense of languor upon him, of cool, comfortable repose; a curious absence of all material things.
