used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
aimlesslyadverbUS /ˈeɪmləsli/
without aim; in an aimless manner
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
any thing at all
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
bitternessnounUS /ˈbɪtərnəs/
a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
calmnessnounUS /ˈkɑːmnəs/
steadiness of mind under stress
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
set up or found
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading No, he would go to his grandfather.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading No, he would go to his grandfather.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
heedlessadjective
marked by or paying little heed or attention
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
HoenounUS /hoʊ/
a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
not any; not one
From this reading No, he would go to his grandfather.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
PlymouthnounUS /ˈplɪməθ/
a town in Massachusetts founded by Pilgrims in 1620
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
pulsenounUS /pʌls/
(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
ripplenounUS /ˈrɪpəl/
a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
ROBIN'SnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
possessive form of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
only a very short time before
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
SOFTENSverbUS /ˈsɔːfənz/
third-person singular of “soften” — make (images or sounds) soft or softer
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
stepfather's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
throbbingnounUS /ˈθrɑːbɪŋ/
an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
at the time that
From this reading ROBIN'S HEART SOFTENS IT was about seven o'clock in the evening when Robin, his heart full of bitterness and rage, turned his back on Sun Court.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The poor child wandered about aimlessly for a while; then, weary in body and mind, he sat down on an empty seat, every pulse and nerve in his body throbbing painfully.
whirlverbUS /wɜːrl/
turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His mind was in a whirl of excitement, and his pale little face was set and stern as, heedless of the direction he was taking, he passed through the crowded Plymouth streets, and at length found himself on the Hoe, overlooking the sea, a great sheet of silvery blue with scarcely a ripple on its surface.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
but in spite of that
From this reading He was not as yet sufficiently composed to think with anything like calmness; but on one point he had come to a determination, and that was that he would never sleep another night beneath his stepfather's roof.
